By Dale Fletcher

There is more than a grand final spot on the line for the Norwood Flames and West Adelaide Bearcats when the two heavyweights clash in the Central ABL men’s preliminary final at Port Adelaide stadium.

For the winner, it’s not only the chance to tackle Sturt Sabres in the decider, but create history for their own club.

The Flames are gunning for their third championship in succession while West is looking for their first championship since Brad McKinnon sunk Noarlunga City Tigers’ hearts back in 1996.

Mouth watering match-ups are all over the court and expect a closer result than the Bearcats 80-57 triumph in round 14.

Since then West have been on a downward skid and have not won a match since a lucky one-point escape over North Adelaide on July 17.

But the Bearcats will hold the edge in the guards simply by weight of numbers led by Brad Davidson.

The former 36er will add the experience needed to young gun Josh Bond, dynamic point man Anthony Spadavecchia and veteran Adam Pearce as the foursome battle the proven Flames backcourt pairing of Todd Matthews and Andrew Webber with youngster Ben Howell blossoming.

In the keyway, it will be a battle of the former NBL big men with David Cooper up against Blake Truslove and Chris Molitor.

Cooper was back to his best last week in the Flames 77-67 elimination of Forestville Eagles with 22 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.

Norwood have the edge in the forwards with Sam Grantham, Keith Krause, Corey Ottey and Daniel Thompson all options for coach Rupert Sapwell while West counterpart Paul Bell relies on US college bound Kurtis Phillips and Ben Evans.

With a big, loud and roaring crowd at Port Adelaide and after two successive losses, expect West to come out breathing fire while the Flames will expect to advance into another grand final.

Tip off is Saturday at 7pm.