Eastern Mavericks (11-6, 5th) v North Adelaide Rockets (12-5, 3rd)
Saturday August 3, 6.30pm at Adelaide Hills

In the Match of the Round, the North Adelaide Rockets can guarantee a double chance via victory over the Mavericks.

Given that there is only one game between second and fifth, this could be an important tie-breaker. The Mavericks currently have the advantage thanks to a one point win over the Rockets in Round 9.

In terms of the other tie-breakers, Sturt holds sway over North, Forestville and Eastern; North has the advantage over Forestville; Forestville is up on Eastern.

The Mavericks are all set to feature in the Elimination Final, regardless of this result. After losing three straight, including a shock 56-63 defeat at Southern last Saturday, they have fallen from top two favourites to rounding out the five.

Tess Madgen has missed the Mavericks’ last five games. Without her, the Mavericks are 3-4. With her, they are 8-2.

Statistics show that Madgen’s availability will have a large bearing on the outcome of this game.
Norwood Flames (17-0, 1st) v Forestville Eagles (12-5, 2nd)
Saturday July 3, 6.30pm at Mars

The Forestville Eagles have crashed the Norwood party in the past, and have another chance to ruin what could be a special night for the Flames.

If the Flames win, they will achieve a feat that no team in the modern era has - going undefeated through a regular season. But they know a win this Saturday is by no means guaranteed, as it was the Eagles who prevented them from going 100 per cent in 2011.

There is a lot riding on this match for the Eagles as well. They need a win to have a chance of finishing in the top three and avoiding a first up Elimination Final.

Any team can win on any given day, but the Eagles probably have not been playing well enough to cause an upset this time, although the game should be a little closer than last time’s margin of 30 points.

 

West Adelaide Bearcats (7-10, 6th) v Sturt Sabres (12-5, 4th)
Saturday August 3, 6.30pm at Port Adelaide

The Sturt Sabres need a win over the Bearcats to earn a home Qualifying Final.

The Sabres could slip outside the top three with a loss. Even with a loss to the Bearcats, they would still be likely to finish with a double chance, giving them a great chance to make their first Grand Final since 2009.

The Bearcats require a win to guarantee sixth position. A loss could see them slip to seventh, depending on the result of the Warriors-Tigers clash.

The Sabres beat the Bearcats by 34 last time, so it would take a massive turnaround for the Bearcats to avoid a series sweep. That said, the Sabres have not been as strong away and have suffered unprecedented losses to Southern and Woodville in recent weeks, which will give the Bearcats some belief.

 

Woodville Warriors (7-10, 7th) v Southern Tigers (5-12, 8th)
Saturday August 3, 6.30pm at St Clair

The Warriors and Tigers will be attempting to finish the season on a high in their Round 18 meeting.

Both have won more games than seemed feasible at the halfway mark, thanks to improved results over the last couple of months. The Tigers dented the Mavericks’ top three hopes last week, getting one back - to an extent - on the club that practically cost them a spot in last season’s finals series.

The Warriors outscored Forestville in the second half of their 72-83 loss, with a poor start again proving costly. That defeat ended a four game winning streak.

The Tigers have won just once on the road this season, which implies the odds favour the Warriors.

 

Central District Lions (1-16, 10th) v South Adelaide Panthers (1-16, 9th)
Saturday August 3, 6.30pm at Starplex

At Starplex, the Lions and Panthers will take to the court for the last and most important time this year.

The Panthers will be hoping to avoid a second successive wooden spoon, while the Lions will try to prevent their first since 2010. The winner will finish ninth, the loser 10th.

The Lions finished 40 points short of the Rockets last week, while the Panthers came agonisingly close to a win over West, going down by a bucket.

Both teams have had their good and bad moments this season, with some close losses and some blowout ones. With not much between them, overtime is a possibility.

Tamika Dukes will be the best player on the court, which may give the Lions the edge, as it did in Round 9.