IT'S now or never for the Bendigo Braves as they chase a SEABL south conference play-off berth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Braves have lost three of their past four matches to slip to fifth place with a 9-11 record.
They are one-and-a-half games behind fourth-placed Frankston (10-12).
On Friday night they host Albury-Wodonga at Bendigo Stadium before travelling to Queensland on Saturday to battle the Brisbane Spartans.
"It's pretty simple, we need to win both games,'' Braves coach Ben Harvey said.
"Every game is big for us. We have the ability to make the play-offs and I have the confidence in the players that they can achieve that.
"The players need to have the confidence in themselves to get the job done.
"One thing I want to see on Friday night is my team go out there and play hard. That's not hard to do. I'm going to play guys who want to play hard.
"If they don't play hard they'll be sitting next to me.
"I want to see the guys play like every possession is their last play.
"If we're not motivated to do that then we're not going to get the points.
The Braves have lost their past three home matches and come up against an Albury side on Friday night that defeated Bendigo by nine points when they met earlier in the season.
"We have a lot of respect for Albury,'' Harvey said.
"They've had the edge on us the past couple of years. They might be sixth on the ladder, but they've won three of their past four matches.
"They lost last week, but they did score 100 points. We need to be on our game if we're to win the game."
While the Braves are battling to make the play-offs, the Lady Braves will be looking to consolidate top spot on the women's south conference ladder.
The Lady Braves (14-5) have won three of their past four matches to hold a half-game advantage over Kilsyth.
Friday night's opponents Albury have won just one game for the season, but Saturday night's rival Brisbane sits third on the east conference ladder with a 14-7 record.
Friday night’s Lady Braves game starts at 6pm, with the Braves to follow at 8pm.
Before the game the Braves will honour retired guard Warren Randall.