Import to tighten Rams' rebounding | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Voodoo could help the Canterbury Rams to victory over Auckland in the NBL at Cowles Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Bert Knops will pitch in his Haitian import Wilder Auguste, who arrived yesterday, for the match against the star-studded Aucklanders.

The Rams must have thought black magic was hexing them with the woes that threatened their entry for the 2008 NBL, but they've started with a win and a loss, and Auguste's arrival is another boost.

The power forward has a reputation for being strong in and around the circle and comes on the recommendation of Dave Langrell, who played against him in the Irish league.

Auguste has also been playing in Mexico.

He's also a strong rebounder - which makes his arrival timely.

Although they beat Otago by five points last week, Knops said "rebounding hurt us a lot. It's been a focus this week."

The new coach didn't let his players get excited about the win and warned them they've got to do better on Sunday.

"We lost our intensity in Dunedin and against a better team we would have been penalised heavily," he said.

Kenny Stone's Auckland have lost Lindsay Tait but most of their players had been together some time and they'd added "one or two pieces to the puzzle," said Knops.

"It was no mean feat beating Harbour.

"Our challenge is to make sure we keep stepping up and improving, and taking care of the little things."

The Rams were starting to gel and had good team chemistry and good team spirit and a willingness to work together, he said.

In-form Auckland star Casey Frank will not be singled out by the Rams.

Frank averaged a "double double" in the two opening rounds -26 points and 11 rebounds - and was named NBL player of the week after powering Auckland to the derby win over Harbour.

The former Breaker, now with Gold Coast, has hit the Kiwi league running on his return from the Aussie NBL.

"He's one of the men to be aware of, but he's very much a team player and they play a team style," said Knops.

"It would be a mistake to focus on him."

While the Rams have signed a Haitian, it's Auckland who could be zombies on Sunday - they start at Cowles less than two days after a match away to Manawatu tonight.