But for South Dragons coach Shane Heal and club chairman Mark Cowan, this week’s trip to the good ol’ US of A is strictly business.

The pair landed in Texas yesterday for a seven-day internment with NBA barnstormers the San Antonio Spurs. Heal and Cowan will spend the week with players, coaches and office staff ahead of preparations for the South Dragons’ own NBL campaign.

As a former NBA athlete, Heal understands what it takes to make it in the world’s best league. While there’s not too much the Dragons star is yet to learn about on-court competition, Heal will this week look for an insight into the latest coaching philosophies to hit the USA.

“I’ll be there just to get ideas of what they’re doing,” Heal said.

“The NBA game is a totally different stye to our game but I’m sure there will be certain things that they’re doing that will be really interesting to hear and then I think you come away and you make up your own mind.

“I’ll be in and out for the week, I’ll be spending a bit of time with the coaching staff and I’ll be at the two games that are on, on Tuesday against Seattle and Thursday against the Phoenix Suns."

Heal will look to former coach and good friend Brett Brown, now the Spurs’ assistant coach, for feedback on the South Dragons’ debut season.

Heal remains in close contact with Brown, who spent 14 seasons coaching in the NBL, including nine as head coach for the North Melbourne Giants and later, the Sydney Kings.

“I’ve been speaking to Brett Brown most weeks so I’m looking forward to getting a chance to sit down with him and get his thoughts,” Heal said.

“Brett’s a good friend and a good guy and I look forward to getting his personal advice as well because he’s somebody that I spoke to a lot during the year and somebody that I respect.

“I sent him a tape of one of our games so it will be good to get some feedback about what he thought we did and try to refine a few things and keep moving forward.”

As the new NBL season draws near, the Spurs will prove a powerful ally to the Dragons’ camp. At 52-20 for the season and with six wins in a row, the Spurs have already clinched their berth in the 2007 playoff series and are a genuine contender for the title.

Although the two teams ply their trade on opposite sides of the world, they are united by one goal: Championship glory.