Despite drastically different fortunes since last time they met, the Norwood Flames will be champing at the bit to avenge their only loss of the season against the Southern Tigers Saturday night.

Since a stinging 70-73 loss at Morphett Vale in Round three, the Flames have won six games in a row, while Tigers have lost six straight. The Tigers stifling defence completely drowned the Flames, forcing them into a pathetic 31% from the field, including a laughable 2/19 from beyond the arc. Rubbing salt into a festering wound was a ghastly 18/35 from the line, David Cooper and Dan Thompson kept to nine points apiece.

Norwood’s highly-touted bench was also snuffed 44-10 by the Tiger reserves.

In order to swing the previous result, Norwood will have to find a good inside-outside balance against the Tiger zone. The Flames have seen plenty of zone since last time, and have been working on their zone attack relentlessly this week in preparation.

Missing from the Tigers, and undoubtedly a bug factor, is 6’9” centre Brad Bungey. The Tigers have been toothless since his injury early in the season. They will need big contributions from Shane Boal, Daniel Lalic and Tristan Braithwaite if they are going to score enough points, while finding someone to pick up Brad Bungey’s 17 boards from last time might be a harder task.

For the Flames, depth and quality contributions all the way through the team are needed, without reliance on a Todd Matthews scoring burst. Corey Ottey had a welcome return to form last week against the Warriors, and consistent outside shooting from him and others will go a long way towards determining the Flames’ fortunes Saturday and beyond.