Watch every second of the 2020-21 NBL grand final series LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
Melbourne is only one victory away from being crowned NBL champions after winning the opening two games of the best-of-five battle.
The series moves from Perth to Melbourne on Friday night and gives United the chance to lift the NBL trophy in front of their fans with the Victorian government opening the door for up to 5000 fans to fill the stands at John Cain Arena.
It would be the perfect end to a season in which Melbourne was forced to spend a month on the road due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.
United veteran David Barlow says the team is excited to be back at home and in front of fans.
"I can't wait to play in that game - hopefully they're loud enough that it feels like it's a packed house," Barlow said.
"I'm hoping that everyone who's in attendance is super excited to be there and feels as lucky as we do to be there - hopefully they're hyped."
Melbourne's pre-season got off to the worst possible start last year when 12 players contracted COVID-19 - including Barlow, who passed it on to his wife and three kids.
They managed other logistical and lockdown challenges in Melbourne but Barlow said the recent stint away, with no certainty around their return was particularly hard with six dads in the team.
"You kind of feel bad complaining as everyone has had those difficulties and we are no different," the four-time title-winner said.
"All the way back to preseason when the majority of us got coronavirus and had to take a huge break from physical activity because of that.
"Then this latest one, being away for over a month, I think was really tough - most of the team has kids and that was definitely the hardest part."
But the 37-year-old said there were some positives - with the team tighter than ever after their shared experiences.
"We've played some good basketball over the last month and I don't know if you put it down to that or it's just coincidence but it was really hard but there were some good times."
Melbourne won the first final by three points and the second by nine but Barlow said game two felt just as tight and he believed clinching the title on Friday would be tough.
"I never felt complete control of the game - I never felt like we could take our foot off the gas.
"In game two we were down 10 early and we had to fight back - there are no breaks with the Wildcats.
2020-21 NBL grand final game 3 - LIVE on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand
Sunday 20 June - 7:30pm AEST
Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats
