The Raiders caused a major upset on Saturday night when they came from 18 points down to defeat minor premier Kilsyth 76-75 in the preliminary final.

The Braves will be hoping for third time lucky after Knox defeated Bendigo in the 2006 and 2008 grand finals.

Knox import C.J Massingale was the hero for the Raiders in the preliminary final.

Massingale scored 41 points, including three three-point bombs in the final 60 seconds as the Raiders stormed home to silence the Cobras’ home crowd.

The Cobras led by 16 points at half-time and by as many as 12 points in the final quarter, but couldn’t land the knockout blow.

They made just five field goals in the final term and had no answer to Massingale’s sweet shooting from the perimeter.

Knox’s squad includes Cam Rigby and Mick Hill, who were part of the Braves’ 2007 south conference grand final winning squad.

The Braves-Raiders east conference decider will be played at Bendigo Stadium next Saturday night. Tickets are available at the Stadium.

The south conference grand final will be between Geelong and Hobart after the Chargers upset Nunawading – 79-72 in their preliminary final on Saturday night.

Dandenong will host the women’s grand final after it thrashed Launceston 80-57 in the second semif-inal.

Launceston will host Brisbane in the preliminary final after Brisbane eliminated Knox 79-67 in the first semi-final.