South Adelaide Panthers (2-7, 8th) v Central District Lions (5-4, 4th)

The Lions will be hoping to retain their place in the top four when they travel to Marion to face the Panthers.

The last time they met, Centrals won 55-54; its first win since July 2009.

The Lions have since proven that win was no fluke, winning four of their eight games since.

At the forefront of the attack has been Jess Mahony, who is the league leader in assists and steals, and is also sixth in rebounding, and 19th in scoring.

Alisha Heglund (15.3 ppg) is Centrals’ leading scorer.

The Panthers have two of the best rebounders in the competition in Simone Nelson (11 rpg, third in the league) and Elizabeth Keane (9.6 rpg, fourth in the league).

Keane is the team’s high scorer at 15.3 ppg, while Claire Johnson is averaging 12.2 ppg.

South has been competitive in most of its games, but has just two wins to its credit.

The Panthers almost lost to winless Eastern in Round 9, only getting up by five points.

I think Centrals will make it two from two against South and retain fourth position.

Southern Tigers (5-4, 5th) v Forestville Eagles (4-5, 7th)

The Forestville Eagles will be determined to return to the top five when they visit the Southern Tigers on Saturday.

The Eagles dropped out of the five with a home loss North in Round 9, after winning their previous two matches.

The Tigers went down to Sturt last round, and have now lost three of their last four matches.

Expect most of Southern’s scoring to come via Madeline Cunningham and Ashleigh Spencer.

Cunningham (14.3 ppg) has attempted 146 shots this season, while Spencer (13.3 ppg) has taken 124 shots.

Teresa Kinross (7.3 ppg) is third for the Tigers in field goal attempts with 78.

For Forestville, Jess Fergus (14.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Georgia Minear (17.2 ppg, 6 rpg) have been the star players.

The last time Southern met the Eagles was back in Round 1, and it was the Tigers who got up 70-68.

I expect there to again be little between the two sides, with Southern repeating its Round 1 success.

West Adelaide Bearcats (7-2, 3rd) v Eastern Mavericks (0-9, 10th)

The Bearcats will be aiming to return to the winners’ list when they take on Eastern at Port Adelaide on Saturday.

After seven consecutive wins to start Season 2011, West has been comprehensively beaten by Sturt and Norwood in its past two matches.

The Mavericks came close to a breakthrough win against South in Round 9, but went down 64-69.

Tracey Beatty had an amazing 27 rebounds in that match, along with 6 blocks and 17 points.

Beatty is averaging 13.8 rpg, 11.5 ppg and 3.5 bpg on the season.

Madison Bycroft is in good form, averaging 14.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg over her past three matches.

For West, Nikita-Lee Martin continues to shine, and is currently averaging 18.9 ppg and 9 rpg, although she only had nine rebounds in total in the losses to the Flames and Sabres.

Ashlea Vordermaier has also been very good, with season averages of 13.4 ppg on 51.2% shooting, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 apg and 3.1 spg.

The last time the Bearcats and Mavericks met, West won by a staggering 81 points.

I do not think the margin will be that great this time, but the Bearcats will prevail easily.

Woodville Warriors (1-8, 9th) v North Adelaide Rockets (4-5, 6th)

The Rockets will be hoping to keep their finals ambitions in tack when they visit the Warriors on Saturday.

Halfway through the second quarter of its Round 9 match against Forestville, North was staring down the barrel of a fourth straight defeat, before a stunning turnaround saw it win by 15.

The Warriors produced a competitive performance against Centrals, but eventually went down by 14.

Woodville has won just once this season, with the performances of Ursula Richards the shining light.

Richards ranks fifth in the league in scoring at 17.6 ppg, and is also averaging 5.3 boards.

Ashleigh White is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.3 rpg, while also providing 10 ppg.

For North, Jo Hill has been outstanding, ranking ninth in the league in scoring with 16.9 ppg, while shooting at a 53% clip.

Her 113 boards is a league-high.

The Rockets won their last meeting with the Warriors 71-63.

I believe North will complete the sweep on Saturday.

Sturt Sabres (8-1, 2nd) v Norwood Flames (9-0, 1st)

Sturt host Norwood on Saturday in the blockbuster clash of Round 9.

The Sabres have not lost since the teams’ last fixture in Round 1, while the Flames are still yet to lose.

Tess Madgen, the league’s leading scorer with 24.2 ppg, will be absent from this one, as she is touring with the opals team.

If Sturt are to get up without her, then Nicole Seekamp (15.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Monique Bowley (10.2 ppg, 55.6% FG, 9.4 rpg) and Caroline Burgess (9.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.2 apg), will all need to have big nights.

For Norwood, Jess Foley has been the star play with 17.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 3.1 spg.

Nadeen Payne is third in the league in scoring at 18.3 ppg and is shooting at a 60% clip (fourth in the league), while Kelsey Ireland (12.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.4 apg) and Rachel Herrick (7.8 ppg, 6.3 apg) have also made strong contributions for Norwood.

This match could go a long way to deciding the Minor Premiership.

I expect this to go right down to the wire, with neither team giving the other an edge.

However, with Madgen out, I reckon the Flames will just get up.

By James Woite