The New Zealand Breakers will need to find a solution to a "Homicide" if they want to keep their home basketball season record intact against the Townsville Crocodiles on Thursday.

Corey "Homicide" Williams has won the last two NBL player of the week awards, scoring 37 when helping the Crocodiles beat the Gold Coast Blaze last weekend.

He is the season's leading scorer, averaging 24 points per game and has helped put the Crocodiles into second place on the ladder.

Williams was held to 16 points per game against the Breakers last season as both sides claimed a victory in their two clashes.

Williams and the Crocodiles arrive as the Breakers, pre-season favourites for the NBL, look to get back on the winning track after another unsuccessful road trip last week.

The Breakers were in front after three quarters of their match against the Wollongong Hawks on Saturday night, but couldn't land many shots in the final quarter and their inability to hold the home team resulted in a 76-65 loss.

It means they have lost all three games away from North Shore Events Centre, though they have won both their home games.

Adding to their woes is that they continue to be without team star Kirk Penney, though his back injury is improving.

His recovery was expected to take four weeks but Penney trained on Wednesday, shooting hoops and moving with a little more freedom, and said he was a little ahead of schedule.

"I'm feeling great, a little better every day and with every workout, but we can't afford to rush this," Penney said.

"The irony is I am most comfortable when on court, moving and shooting. The trouble starts when I try to sit down or bend at the waist, that still brings on some pain and my movement is restricted."

Penney said it was hard to put a timeline on his recovery, but he was aiming for next week's game against the Adelaide 36ers.