TO GET a home draw in the finals, teams can't lose too many matches in the QBL; something both the Minecorp Rockets and Mackay Meteors will be aware of when they meet in Mackay tonight.

The Rockets and the Meteors have a special kind of rivalry and tonight the home crowd will be going out to give the Rockhampton team as much on-court hospitality their heroes receive when they come to Hegvold Stadium.

Both teams like to call their home court their fortress with Mackay's record at the Crater in recent years exceptional.

Consequently, Rockets coach Neal Tweedy knows his players face a massive challenge when they face the current QBL champion.

Tweedy believes his starting group has enough experience to withstand the taunts of the parochial crowd and is quietly confident the Rockets can finally get a win in Mackay.

"We need to make the right plays early on and put the pressure on Mackay," he said.

Consequently the first quarter could be the deciding point of the game with both teams not wanting the other to make a break on the scoreboard.

Tweedy knows the Mackay team is crammed with stars but believes the Rockets can match them and have a further ingredient by having the right chemistry.

"I feel we have got a group which can stand up when the going gets tough," Tweedy said.

He said the Rockets squad was very experienced with a number winning championships in the QBL, Travis Reed having a wealth of international experience and three-point specialist Brad Williamson winning an NBL premiership with the Brisbane Bullets five years ago.

The top-class performance from Williamson against Mackay a few weeks ago means Meteors will take a special interest in the Rockets small forward.

Nine times Williamson succeeded from the three-point line but it is hard to imagine he will get that much freedom tonight.

However, if Mackay wish to concentrate on Williamson it will provide other players with opportunities around the hoop.

Big men Reed and Ryan McDade, who has recovered from the knock he received to his shoulder against Toowoomba, are also a danger and capable of scoring points while also collecting a high percentage of rebounds off the boards.

Mitch Philp has the acceleration and pace to unsettle the most organised defensive structure and is a key part of the Rockets line-up, both offensively and defensively.

The unsung hero of the Rockets team is defender Peni Nasalo.

While rarely receiving the accolades other team members gain, his talents were recognised by Tweedy who said Nasalo applies the glue to keep the Rockets together.

Nasalo has the ability to get on with his game in an unspectacular fashion, but if some of his teammates have an off-night he is able to step up a level and put some points on the board like he did in last week's match with Toowoomba.

 

QBL

Fixtures in Round Three

Today: Toowoomba v Townsville, Brisbane v South-west Metro, Gladstone v Bundaberg, Maroochydore v Northside, Mackay v Rockets. Tomorrow:- Ipswich v Townsville.

Ladder: 1: Rockets, 2: Townsville, 3: Mackay, 4: Ipswich, 5: Northside, 6: Gold Coast, 7: South-west Metro, 8: Bundaberg, 9: Gladstone, 10: Brisbane, 11: Cairns, 12: Maroochydore, 13: Toowoomba.