Taranaki Trojans coach Jeff Cleaver knows his team faces an uphill challenge at the national women's basketball championship playoffs starting in Dunedin today.

But it does not bother him.

"We're playing against the top five teams in New Zealand and you expect that," he said yesterday. "Our first game is in the morning against Nelson.

"They're big and they'll be very tough. But, once again, it's a one-off game. If we can get in their faces and put a bit of pressure on them, who knows?"

STEPPING UP: Terai Sadler of the Taranaki Trojans Woman's basketball team.

Cleaver said Waitakere would also be a tough opponent.

"They're a young side, very quick. They shoot the ball well and we will have to play very well," he said.

Crossover play begins tomorrow, with the final games on Saturday.

"We're pretty chuffed to have made it through to the top six, but that obviously means we'll be facing some tough competition as well. There will be no easy games this time round," Trojans captain Hannah Fleming said. "We're going down there with nothing to lose. We've been the underdogs right through the competition and have shown that we can cause some upsets so, hopefully, we can cause a few more."

Fleming said the main focus was to play hard defence and try to take control of each game.

"The more we can get to the foul line, the more our opposition will be on the back foot."

Two players, Molly McCallum and Josie Stockill, are unavailable for the tournament, with their places filled by Cleaver's daughter, Sophie, who is travelling from Auckland, and Jennifer Hooker, who is studying in Dunedin.

TARANAKI TROJANS: Veronica Andrews, Cara Stonnell, Hannah Fleming (captain), Victoria Hill, Toni Schrader, Terai Sadler, Katie O'Donnell, Katherine Banks, Sophie Cleaver and Jennifer Hooker.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/7530669/Trojans-step-up-for-playoffs/