NBL-quality bigs and smalls feature in the men's battle between reigning premiers Forestville and Central ABL favourites North at Hillcrest on Saturday night.

When NBL Championship-winning forward Dusty Rychart and University of New Mexico guard Ryan Kersten entered Morphett Vale for their first game last week, there were more hugs than the credits of Saturday Night Live, but no-one was happier than Justin Schueller. The Rockets had lost their first game against West, and would have felt the pressure at the Cage, given that Rychart and Kersten were yet to train with the team.

On the other end of the scale, Forestville's centre Kane Oakley arrived from Cairns a week before the first round, and had the luxury of two trainings and a reserves game with the Eagles before suiting in Forestville's round 1 win over Eastern. He joins Forestville's other NBL player Matt Sutton, who has come off an impressive rookie season with the Adelaide 36ers, and is keen to show his opportunities were deserved.

North also have 36er Erik Burdon and former 36er Nick Hambour, both of whom can be devastating at this level. For Forestville, Brad Sullivan has a history of turning it on in big games, and this one certainly qualifies. A loss to either team would rank them in the more mediocre band of the ladder, whereas a win for North would keep the pressure on league-leading Norwood.

Whether or not you'll see Rychart-Oakley and Sutton-Kersten matchups to start the game is questionable. Rychart has been starting at the four spot, so Rychart-Hoban and Hambour-Oakley is more likely. In the backcourt, Kersten didn't start in his first weekend, and if he does, you could see Brad Sullivan start on him, with Sutton matching up on Burdon or Michael Zorich.

Either way it should make for a great game. Get there early to guarantee a seat.

Oh, and if you haven't used the phrase "Launch Pad" to describe Hillcrest, you should. It's catching on.

Honestly, it is.