THE Geraldton Buccaneers, Perth Redbacks, Stirling Senators and East Perth Eagles all have two chances this weekend to book a spot in the men's SBL semi finals for 2014.

Three of the four Game 2 men's quarter final match ups will take place on Friday night with the Eagles, Senators and Redbacks having a chance to advance straight to the semi finals.

Those matches pit the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames up against the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles at Mike Barnett Sports Complex, the Lakeside Lightning against the Stirling Senators at Lakeside Recreation Centre and the Perth Redbacks against the Mandurah Magic on Belmont Oasis.

The only Game 2 quarter final on Saturday night sees the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers face the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers at Active West Stadium.

The Eagles might have finished the regular season in seventh position on the standings, but with Tom Jervis back in their line-up last week they recorded a 102-91 win over the second-placed Flames at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

East Perth will also welcome back Joe-Alan Tupaea after he missed last Friday night's Game 1 through suspension but Rockingham hits its home court now for a potential two matches where they had a 10-3 record through the regular season.

The Lightning are the defending men's SBL champions and finished fourth at the end of the regular season for 2014, but they now have their work cut out to advance to the semi finals by overcoming the Senators.

Stirling won Game 1 last Saturday night at Warwick Leisure Centre 105-94 to now be in a strong position entering the weekend needing to win just one of two matches at Lakeside to advance to the semi finals.

The Redbacks scored the most emphatic of the Game 1 victories last weekend with a 114-91 win on the road to the Magic.

And since then Mandurah has parted way with its coach Jason Chalk and face an uphill battle to make a contest of their series against a Redbacks team in outstanding form led by Stan Okoye, Lee Roberts, Jarrad Prior and Joel Wagner.

However, sometimes a bit of turmoil and controversy can do strange things to a team so the Magic could very well come out an inspired unit this weekend.

The Buccaneers won Game 1 of their quarter final series on the road to the Slammers last Saturday night when they prevailed 99-88, and now they head home this weekend trying to book a spot in the semi finals.

Geraldton finished the regular season on top of the standings with a 19-7 record to be five games clear of the eighth-placed South West, but the Slammers have plenty of talent and experience still so the Buccs will need to be at their best to advance.

If the Flames beat the Eagles on Friday night, then the deciding Game 3 between Rockingham and East Perth will take place on Saturday night at Mike Barnett Sports Complex at 8.30pm.

If the Lightning manages to beat the Senators on Friday night as well, then Lakeside and Stirling will do battle in a deciding Game 3 at Lakeside Recreation Centre on Saturday night with tip-off set for 8pm.

If the Magic manage to put behind them a tumultuous week and upset the Redbacks on Friday night, then Game 3 between Perth and Mandurah will be on Sunday afternoon at midday at Belmont Oasis.

If the Slammers are able to upset the minor premier Buccaneers on Saturday, then the two teams will back up little over 12 hours later in a deciding Game 3 at Active West Stadium with tip-off set to happen at midday.

WEEK 2 MEN'S QUARTER FINALS SBL FIXTURES – GAME 2s
FRIDAY
(2) Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v (7) Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 8.30pm
(4) Lakeside Lightning v (5) Stirling Senators, Lakeside Recreation Centre 8.30pm
(3) Perth Redbacks v (6) Mandurah Magic, Belmont Oasis 7.30pm

SATURDAY
(1) Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers v (8) Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers, Active West Stadium 7.30pm

WEEK 2 MEN'S QUARTER FINALS SBL FIXTURES – GAME 3s if required
SATURDAY
(4) Lakeside Lightning v (5) Stirling Senators, Lakeside Recreation Centre 8pm
(2) Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v (7) Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 8.30pm

SUNDAY
(1) Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers v (8) Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers, Active West Stadium 12pm
(3) Perth Redbacks v (6) Mandurah Magic, Belmont Oasis 12pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Deprimo Photography