Ipswich Force v Townsville Heat, Sat 16th May @ 7:00pm (Ipswich Basketball Stadium)-The Force will need to win this game to avoid rolling into a 3-game losing streak.  The team has yet to really find their chi, as they are 1 and 2 after going down to South West and then Mackay over the last two Rounds.  Once the chemistry in this team gets working and players start firing this team has what it takes to climb the ladder.  Much more required from Cann who is hitting 22% from the field after 3 games.  The Heat arrive for their first Brisbane road trip of the year with a mountain of pressure on them to clean sweep the weekend.  With the Marlins, Rockets and Meteors playing at a feverish pace, the Heat may just get left behind in Pool A if they add another loss to their name.  Solid court time for all last week against the Mountaineers should have the travelling 12 match ready.  Susnjara playing exceptionally well in his first year with the Heat.

Caboolture Suns v Northside Wizards, Sat 16th May @ 7:00pm (Caloundra Indoor Stadium)-The Suns are well rested after having the Round 3 bye and will be chomping at the bit to get down and dirty here.  At 2 and 0 they are very well positioned in '09.  However, over the last 2 years the team has started the season with a bang but then stumbled by mid-season to create a gap between them and the finals that was too big to close in.  New Coach, new imports and a new attitude will hopefully bring a sweeping change to this pattern.  The Wizards were left shell shocked last week after the Meteors surged in the 2nd half to sink them (90-83).  Tragardh will be looking to return to his best despite a 20pt, 21rb haul - the Meteors really rattled him last week.  Suns import Ajayi expected to be sidelined to Round 7 but an early re-entry is not out of the question.  McGuiness leading the League for FG% with 76.5%. 

South West Metro Pirates v Maroochydore Clippers, Sat 16th May @ 7:00pm (Hibiscus Sports Complex)-The Pirates will be tipping off with alot more confidence than the Clippers who are on a multi-year losing streak.  The team has lost their last 23 games in a row, with their last win being against Mackay in Round 14 of 2007.  This needs to break now for the team to rebuild their '09 season from its current 0 and 3 place.  Teys is hitting well above his career-to-date averages (23ppg, 7rpg, 3apg), as is Thompson (21ppg, 10rpg, 1apg).  These two shouldn't have any issues penetrating the Clippers defense.  The Clippers couldn't find rhythm last week against the Capitals, throwing up many unsuccessful long rangers (3 of 22).  More team work required if they wish to stay in the hunt for a win here. 

Bundaberg Bulls v Toowoomba Mountaineers, Sat 16th May @ 7:00pm (Century 21 Stadium)-Both teams have yet to collect a win in 2009.  The Bulls had a mere sniff of victory last week against the Goannas but went down in the dying seconds 105-108.  Hanson is leading the League with 37ppg, with a Round 3 high of 42pts against the Goannas.  Coach Van Dongen will need Moore and Keirnan to match his on-court presence if the team is a chance of bucking their 3-game losing streak.  The Mountaineers battled hard last week on the almost impossible northern road trip but to no prevail.  Morale would have to be low coming off the back of two absolute thrashings (69pt loss against the Marlins, followed by 68pt loss to the Heat) but let's see if the team can rally and rise from the ashes.  Glover expected to carry a large workload of which he continues to take in his stride.

Rockhampton Rockets v Mackay Meteors, Sat 16th May @ 7:45pm (Hegvold Stadium)- This is the game of the week in the Men's competition!  The Rockets collected a win on both occasions these two met in 2008 however this one stands to be slightly different.  The Meteors will arrive in Rockhampton with a massive amount of momentum behind them from their triple-header clean sweep.  Cook collected the Round 3 Player of the Week Award for his strong leadership and Fitzgerald can do serious damage if left free to roam.  This game will be a strong gauge as to where the power in central Queensland lies at present.  The Rockets at home are always a heavy task with the intimidation factor of the home crowd.  Golson and Aucoin are starting to wind up and perform as they did against the Power last week, with the best of these two yet to come.  Expect a highly skilled, physical turnout - mesh these two teams together and you've probably got team no. 8 for the NBL!

Brisbane Capitals v Townsville Heat, Sun 17th May @ 2:00pm (Vince Hickey Stadium)-This game has to have the Heat worried.  The Capitals have a bucket load of experience and despite going down to the Marlins in Round 2 the team is playing like they really mean it.  We've yet to see what Castle really has to offer while Latimer managed 21pts, 7rbs, 1ast, 3blks in 25mins against the Clippers last week.  The Heat face their second challenge of the weekend and after pumping bullets into the Mountaineers last week are well versed in the art of winning.  Susnjara leading the team at both ends of the court with 22 year old Rees starting to assume a chunk of the workload on offense.    A win for the Capitals here will have them in a positive light to dominate Pool B with the Suns and Wizards the only other contenders thus far.

Gold Coast Goannas v Ipswich Force, Sun 17th May @ 2:00pm (Tallebudgera Leisure Centre)-The Goannas have split their games and sit at 2 and 2 so far in '09.  McGregor and Gurney have carried the team through the first 4 Rounds of competition so it will be interesting to see if they can continue to produce the higher workload week-in week-out.  Gleeson has been a welcomed addition to the team and is taking around 30mins for 16ppg, 3rpg, 3apg.  The Force are coming off the back of a super tough Saturday night home game against the Heat so we'll soon find out who the pre-season slackers of the team are with endurance a must.  These two team will play each other twice this year and as the finals are based on pool placings head to head results can be very important.  If a margin is created either way, don't expect to see any easing off the gas.

Gladstone Power v Mackay Meteors, Sun 17th May @ 2:00pm (Kev Broome Stadium)-Expect another big turnout in Gladstone as the town is really behind the team this year.  The Power have only managed one win but are showing real signs of confidence that they can match it with anybody in 2009.  The team will turn to Simanic in a crisis and he has a long history in the QBL of maintaining composure under pressure.  The Meteors have been handed a pretty tough draw in 2009, as they are probably still feeling the effects of last weekend's triple-header and will now shoot off for another road-double.  Expect Cook and Fitzgerald to play big minutes on Saturday night against the Rockets - let's see how the home team exploits this weakness.  The Meteors are proven winners in '09 and this weekend is a chance for them to prove how really serious they are.

Maroochydore Clippers v Toowoomba Mountaineers, Sun 17th May @ 2:00pm (Maroochydore Basketball Stadium)-A clash for the wooden spoon!  Both teams play Saturday night games and will therefore arrive on a level pegging.  The Clippers Sykes is playing slightly under his career-to-date workrate of 23ppg, 8rpg, 5apg and needs to assume control of the team and provide real leadership and guidance if this team is going to prosper.  Just because these two teams are making up the bottom rung of the ladder, don't expect it to be a lay down sally affair.  The Mountaineers will have a restless night after travelling down from Bundaberg and will probably take the first period to get moving.  The year is nowhere near over and a season resurrection is more than possible.