Q: How important is this weekend’s round in determining finals positions?

A: Very!

While North, Norwood and Forestville have virtually stitched up the top 3 spots in the men’s competition, positions 4 and 5 are most certainly up for grabs. Sturt currently is a game clear of Woodville and two of Southern and Centrals. The Sabres would be ecstatic with the form of Mark Paget, whose breakout game last week might ease fears that Jordan Dodman’s departure would signal an end to their season.

A win over Centrals, however, would go a long way towards cementing a finals berth, and almost definitely write off any chance the Lions had of advancing to the post-season. Centrals has not had problems scoring, racking up totals of 98, 103 and 110 in the last 3 weeks, but the key to this game will be what they can do at the other end of the court.

West and Woodville will fight out a traditional derby at the Port, and the Warriors will be doing everything they can to stay in touch with Sturt. Both teams are on a slide at the moment (West has lost 4 in a row and Woodville 3), but the undersized Bearcats showed two rounds ago against Forestville that they can still compete with anyone in the league.

Meanwhile, Forestville’s women, after a slow start, have won 7 of their last 8 games, and have a chance to move into second place with a win over Southern. With Mia Newley and Dee Ranford in great form, and averaging over 16 points a game, the Tigers will find it difficult to reverse the 20 point deficit they suffered at the Cage in round 3. Having said that, there’s a reason that Southern are sitting atop the premiership ladder. Although they’ve struggled recently against North and Norwood, Forestville is one of just 2 teams of which the Tigers haven’t claimed the scalp this season.

Also fighting for finals positions are Norwood and Eastern, who will clash in a high paced game at Mars. Jess Foley has had  a huge impact on this league, averaging almost 30 points, 5 assists and 10 rebounds in her two games this year, and her addition turns the Flames from a young group struggling to make the finals into a legitimate title contender again.

Whichever stadium you’re at, it would be folly to underestimate the significance of this round.