Central District Lions (7-5, 4th) v Eastern Mavericks (0-12, 10th)
Saturday July 6, 8.15pm at Starplex
Officials: L Sorensen & A Gillings

Having just won a game that their form suggested they would not win, the Lions no longer have the element of surprise on their side ahead of their meeting with Eastern.

After a blowout loss to Forestville, the Lions had found themselves outside the top five for the first time this year, only for their victory over finals contenders Southern to put them back in.

The Mavericks kept with the Bearcats for a quarter last week, but fell away in the final 30 minutes. They at least can take confidence from the fact the Lions have won just once at home since Round 3.

Last time they met, the Lions did not put the Mavericks away until a 25-13 fourth quarter catapulted them to a 91-72 victory. Daniel Lean and Curtis Scipio combined for 45 Maverick points, while Christopher Clausen led the Lions with 22.

A game the Lions should win, but nothing has been a given thus far in 2013.

Sturt Sabres (6-6, 6th) v Forestville Eagles (8-4, 3rd)
Saturday July 6, 8.15pm at Pasadena
Officials: J Clover & N Ireland

In Round 10, when Sturt had overcome Centrals and Forestville had been downed by West, the Sabres appeared to be on track to reverse their earlier result against the Eagles.

The Sabres now have their due date, but the circumstances have changed somewhat dramatically in the last couple of weeks.

The Eagles have just put Centrals and South to the sword by a combined total of 76 points. The Sabres have recently played those sides, resulting in an advantage of plus-25 – 51 points short of their closest rivals.

The Sabres badly need to win after their costly 70-73 loss to North last week, but this is not an opponent they would want to come against. The Round 4 scoreline of 88-71 implies a closer game than what it was, with the Eagles (with a less staggering line-up) monstering the Sabres in the first half. With Adam Doyle ever a factor, the Eagles also won three of four against the Sabres last season.

Led by Matthew Dougherty, Sam Daly and John Marriott, the Sabres have been brave all season, but it will take more than effort to overcome their improved bogey side.

North Adelaide Rockets (7-5, 5th) v Norwood Flames (5-7, 8th)
Saturday July 6, 8.15pm at Hillcrest
Officials: V Devlin & M Frost

If the Flames could choose a destination in which to save their season, the name “Hillcrest” would surely be at the tip of their tongues.

Aside from a 45 point shellacking in Round 2 last season, the Flames have owned the Rockets at Hillcrest in recent years, including a 79-61 triumph in the 2012 First Semi Final.

For all their difficulties this season, the Flames proved in Round 4 they still have the Rockets measure. Behind 28 points from former Rocket Edward Millard and 19 from Andrew Webber, the Flames came away with a 96-77 victory.

The Flames badly need a similar result if they are to make the finals for an eighth straight season. Despite only five wins, they are just two games outside the top five.

The Rockets are coming off a crucial victory away to Sturt, which keeps them in the top five for now. Ryan Franceschinis led the team in scoring with 19, while Pero Vasilijevic was held to a season low 6 points, but made a major contribution with 18 rebounds.

History says Norwood but form says North.

West Adelaide Bearcats (10-2, 1st) v Woodville Warriors (10-2, 2nd)
Saturday July 6, 8.15pm at Port Adelaide
Officials: A Filmer & N Durant

In the Match of the Season thus far, West and Woodville will meet in a would-be Minor Premiership decider.

There was little between the two sides back in Round 4. The Bearcats started the better and build a double figure lead at half-time, only for the Warriors to tear them apart and lead at three quarter time. After playing the night before, the Warriors committed 10 costly turnovers in the fourth as the Bearcats clawed back to win by eight.

Darren Ng, Aaron Wyatt and Luke Stanbridge were the Warriors’ best, while Daniel Johnson and Zane Reeves played well for most of the night and Paul Rankin proved the x-factor in the fourth period.

Since Round 4, the Bearcats’ 6-2 record does not tell the whole story. Their performances have varied from week-to-week, suggesting the in-and-out appearances of Johnson and Jason Cadee have disrupted the team’s rhythm.

The Warriors, 7-1 in their past eight, have achieved something that not even their premiership heroes of 2005 could do – win five consecutive games. Ng has been the catalyst, scoring 133 points at an average of 26.6 per game. 

At this moment, the Warriors are doing everything right and are a great chance to move into first.

South Adelaide Panthers (1-11, 9th) v Southern Tigers (6-6, 7th)
Saturday July 6, 8.15pm at Marion
Officials: I Domeika & L Smith

Following a fortnight of surprises, the Southern Tigers will be desperate for a win to keep their finals hopes intact when they visit South.

The Tigers reached their highest point of the season two Saturday ago when they became the first team this year to defeat West Adelaide at Port Adelaide. However, they buttered up by suffering their most disappointing loss of the season, a 52-69 setback at home to the out-of-sorts Lions. Consequently, the Tigers have returned to seventh instead of rising to fourth.

The Panthers are coming off a 35 point loss to Forestville. They are in ninth position, one game ahead of the Mavericks, whom they play next week.

The yellow and black have won their last three against the Panthers, including a 75-65 triumph in Round 4. Michael Florance scored a team-high 18 for the Tigers, who also got 13 from Codey Ellison, Samuel McDaniel and Samuel Johns. Thomas McKenzie, Shane Boal and Jordan Robertson combined for 52 Panther points.

Tigers to bounce back with an important W.