Perth Lynx coach Ryan Petrik is demanding his players stop relying on individual talent and start playing team basketball as they prepare to face Canberra on Friday.

The Lynx will enter the game with a 1-1 record after beating Southside on overtime on Wednesday. That followed a two-point loss to Adelaide in their opening game of the season.

Perth’s talent has been obvious throughout the first two games, with their starting five including three WNBA players plus two Australian Opals who have both won WNBL titles.

But both Southside and Adelaide scored at will during different phases of their clashes and the Lynx often lacked patience on offence.

Petrik said that couldn’t continue.

“We could be the greatest offence of all time but if we are then the worst defensive team in history, we won’t go very far,” Petrik said.

“From midway through the second quarter (against Southside) through to the end, we were much better. But that end is still a work in progress.

“And when we find our playbook we look incredible. But when we play random, pick-up basketball and everyone is standing around wondering the other player is doing, we look awful.

“Once we find our stuff and play decent defence, we are really good. But when you look at the first 15 minutes, we will not win a championship guarding anyone like that.”

Friday’s match will see former West Coast Waves coach Kennedy Kereama in charge of Canberra as he continues to fill in for suspended Head Coach Paul Goriss.

Goriss was banned after being leaked footage of Sydney Uni Flames’ practice matches by a WNBL referee in the build up to their clash in round one.

Canberra will be full of emotion as star guard Kelly Wilson becomes the first person to play 400 WNBL games.

The Capitals have a 3-1 record and Petrik said they would make the Lynx pay if changes weren’t made.

“We can’t keep saying the same stuff for 11 weeks,” he said.

“We have to start playing defence and our communication has got to be better. We need to start fixing new mistakes instead of working on fixing old mistakes.”