Two wins this weekend will put the Bendigo Bank Spirit within reach of a fourth consecutive WNBL finals series.
Out-of-form Dandenong returns to Bendigo Stadium tonight seeking revenge for a loss to the Spirit before the Christmas break, while Bendigo travels to Canberra on Sunday for the first of four matches in a row on the road.
Wins against the Rangers and Capitals, seventh and eighth respectively on the ladder, would also give the Spirit the crucial head-to-head advantage should the teams finish equal on wins at the end of the season.
“This weekend has huge ramifications for play-off positions,” Spirit coach Bernie Harrower said yesterday.
“If we can get both of these wins we could afford to drop two matches later and still make finals.
“We need to beat these teams that we’re fighting for spots with.”
The Spirit will take plenty of confidence into tonight’s match after destroying Dandenong 92-63 last time.
However, the Rangers will be desperate to put an end to a three-match losing streak.
Led by Tess Madgen and Kelly Wilson, the Spirit played one of the best matches in its history to beat Dandenong on December 17 and Harrower is hoping for a repeat performance tonight.
“If all our stars stand up that’s what’s going to make the difference for us,” Harrower said.
“Our team chemistry is now where I want it to be, our defence is where I want it, it will just depend if we can score enough points.
“They’re on a bit of a slide – they’ve lost three in a row – but last time in Bendigo they had to play the night before which was tough for them.
“This time we’ll come in fresh and they’ll come in fresh.”
On Sunday afternoon the Spirit will face a Canberra team in the midst of a mid-season revival.
The Capitals have won three matches in a row – including their past two against top-five teams Sydney and Bulleen.
Canberra is a win behind fifth-placed Bendigo, but has played two more games, and the Capitals need to win on Sunday to keep in touch with the top five.
Harrower said Canberra’s home court held no fears for the club, which will take a fully-fit squad into this weekend’s matches.
“We’ve won up there a couple of times and we broke their huge winning streak on their home court (26 wins in a row broken by the Spirit in 2009),” Harrower said.
“I’d like to think we’re better now and they’re not as good.
“We won’t have any excuses, our confidence is running pretty high at the moment, we’ve had three wins in a row.”
After this weekend’s matches, the Spirit plays four of its last six matches against top-five teams – Sydney, Bulleen and top-team Adelaide twice.
The club’s final three matches are all at home, with a final round Friday night game against the sixth-placed Logan Thunder on February 18.
Tonight’s game at Bendigo Stadium starts at 7.30pm.
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