Caboolture Suns v Brisbane Capitals, Sat May 30 @ 5:15pm (Caloundra Indoor Sports Stadium)-  Simone Grant has developed her craft over multiple seasons with the Rocky Cyclones.  After 4 games with new club the Suns, she has risen to the top of the pack and assumed a leadership role at 15.5ppg, 7rpg, 1.5apg.  The team is 2nd on the ladder having only dropped the one game so far (their season opener against the Clippers where they went down by 8pts).  The Capitals are coming off the back of a disheartening weekend in CQ where the 2 new Bundy imports were impossible and the might of the Powers Bibby was unstoppable, putting the team on a 5-game losing streak.  Let’s see if National Championship winning Coach Austin can steer this year back in the right direction. 

Toowoomba Mountaineers v Mackay Meteorettes, Sat May 30 @ 5:15pm (Toowoomba B/ball Stadium)-  The Mountaineers will kick this game off in style with one of the best national anthem singers in the state.  The team will need all the boost they can get as they are currently at 0 and 7 having lost their last 4 games by 25pts+.  They can rest easy that Cox and Tolo will not be suiting up which if they can exploit they may just find themselves close to a victory.  The Meteorettes are on a 3-game slide with this weekend capable of propelling them closer to the Cyclones and Flames or seeing them sink into the almost forgotten about lower rungs on the ladder.  The Mountaineers offensive continues to be a worry with poor percentages from the line last week (14%) not helping their cause.  A win required soon before chik chik boom, the season is behind them. 

Northside Wizards v South West Metro Pirates, Sat May 30 @ 5:15pm (The Sports Centre)-  At 1 and 4 the Wizards are in a position they would of not thought possible with their new recruits.  The experience that has been added to the team with Michael and Purcell has not shone thru just yet.  Michael needs to reel in the near 6 turnovers a game she is making and with the team yet to win at home the Pirates will be on the hunt for a quick victory.  Both teams are on the local double this weekend and are also looking to buck losing streaks.  Even though it’s still early days, 2 games in 2 days provides opportunities for either team to change the course of their year and get back into the hunt for fame.  Wizards will need to up the anti from their 25% from the field last week if they are serious about competition points.

Rockhampton Cyclones v Ipswich Force, Sat May 30 @ 6:00pm (Hegvold Stadium)-  The Round 5 Player of the Week Rebecca Haynes should have a field day in this game.  She is growing exponentially from week to week and if she continues to do so expect big numbers this week.  At 4 and 0 and playing as confidently as they are, it will take something special to knock this team off their streak.  With that said the Force have shown they are able to produce a big game where required.  They stepped up to the Flames in Round 4 and managed a 5pt win over the 2-time National Champ’s.  The team is going toe-to-toe with the Gliders for top-dog honours in Pool C yet know that this weekend will not be an easy task to endure.  They will travel a long way to face the Cyclones and need to store some in the tank to face the might of the rejuvenated Bears on Sunday. 

Maroochydore Clippers v Gold Coast Gliders, Sat Mat 30 @ 6:00pm (Maroochydore B/ball Stadium)-  Having only dropped 2 of 7 in ’09 puts the Clippers in a very promising position.  The team is a clear 2^nd in Pool B behind the Suns and playing quality ball.  They will have to pay caution to the Gliders who have proven 4 times this year that they mean business.  The travelling team is on a 3-game run having taught the Mountaineers a lesson last week (65-39).  Griffiths is playing at nearly 3 times her career-to-date average and has really assumed a lead role in the Gliders campaign.  On the other hand, the Clippers managed 1 and 1 on their road trip into CQ and should enjoy this home game.  They have split their 2 home games so far this season and the locals are hungry for more.

Townsville Flames v Gladstone Power, Sat May 30 @ 6:00pm (NPA Stadium)-  Expect big things from this game.  Let’s think back to Round 2 where the game went into double overtime with both teams getting pushed to the brink of collapse before the Flames scraped thru with a 115-110 win.  The Flames have the home court advantage and with the Power having to travel a very long distance on the road to reach north QLD they will be ready to capitalise on this.  Flames getting their groove back with a win over the Dolphins last week (98-71) with Dalgleish taking 25pts @ 57%, 12rbs.  It will take a triple-team to peg the Power’s Bibby down, who is well and truly the League’s Leading Scorer with 34.8ppg.  Beatson has risen to the challenge of the Powers higher productivity and was rewarded with 17pts, 14rbs, 2asts, 7blks last week.    

South West Metro Pirates v Mackay Meteorettes, Sun May 31 @ 11:15am (Hibiscus Sports Complex)-  The Pirates are in unfamiliar territory this year with 3 losses to their name already.  The team went thru the ’08 regular season only dropping 4 of 18 before going all the way to a National Quarter Final.  The team carries quality players and if Wallis can find her range, Mill consistently hit her three’s and Brady clean up the scraps, then the Meteorettes will find themselves in hot water.  The Pirates have recruited American Catherine Scanlon out of Luxemburg – it will be interesting to see if she gets cleared to play this weekend.  This game marks the half way point of the year for the Meteorettes with most of their travel now out of the way.  Stoddart will need to work successfully with McGrath for this road double to end on a high note.

Gold Coast Gliders v Northside Wizards, Sun May 31 @ 12:15pm (Tallebudgera Leisure Centre)-  No excuses of exhaustion with both teams having played Saturday night games.  The Gliders have been the quiet achievers in ’09 having gone about their job to land at 4 and 2 so far.  They will bring a reserved level of confidence into the game after collecting wins from their last 3 starts.  They will need to be careful as the Wizards are slowly but surely sharpening their tools.  The team is like a diamond in the rough and it’s only a matter of time before their year starts to take shape.  The win could really swing either way but will be linked to any momentum gained from a possible Saturday night victory. 

Cairns Dolphins v Gladstone Power, Sun May 31 @ 12:15pm (Bendigo Bank B/ball Centre)-  The Dolphins have the advantage of arriving fresh and ready to rumble in this one with the knowledge that the Flames would have taken some of the wind out of the Power’s sails on Saturday night.  The home team have really tossed and turned the start of their season going back and forth from a win to a loss over and over.  This is an unorthodox method of building into greatness but as the pattern suggests they are due for a win this week.  Easier said than done here with Bibby guaranteed to notch up 35pts.  The Dolphins North is playing at around twice her career workrate and currently leading the team’s offense (14ppg, 3rpg).  Despite a very long weekend on the road for the Power, the home team will have to have their game faces on early as the Power have what it takes to collect a Championship in ’09. 

Bundaberg Bears v Ipswich Force, Sun May 31 @ 12:15pm (Century 21 Stadium)- The Bears have recruited the strongest talent that has been seen within the club in many years.  Since arriving 2 weeks ago, Lee and Gandy have created an attacking whirlwind seeing the team top 100pts from both of their last starts.  Neither Toowoomba or Brisbane could handle the might so a chance for Ipswich to roll the dice.  Gandy (33pts), Lee (30pts) and Freeburn (30pts) take up 3 positions of the top 10 highest scores in the 2009 season which should be of real concern to the Force.  Stefanovic is a solid all-rounder and will need to bring her big game experience into this one.  She has an impressive 5-year average of 15.6ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.8apg and will need to play a strategic game to duck and weave the new strength of the Bears.