THE Champions IGA Bendigo Lady Braves face a daunting task in this weekend's basketball matches at home and away.
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Bendigo's big weekend tips off with Saturday night's match against Dandenong at Bendigo Stadium from 6pm.
The team's first double of the season rolls on at Nunawading on Sunday afternoon in the match of the round.
Bendigo coach Jonathan Goodman said being up against two of the South East Australia Basketball League's best would be a great test.
The lesser-lights in the Lady Braves squad will have plenty of opportunities to shine.
Bendigo guards Kelly Wilson and Tessa Lavey are representing Australia in the Opals tour of Europe, and in-form guard Jane Chalmers takes a "well earned holiday" this weekend.
Another of the Lady Braves' guards, Kerryn Harrington faces a game-day fitness test after she injured a calf in the second quarter of last Saturday's win against Geelong.
Goodman said he had approached Bendigo Spirit centre Gabe Richards to play a couple of games for the Lady Braves.
"Gabe agreed to and trained with us on Thursday night. Unfortunately, for Gabe to play it meant we would have to de-register a player. We chose not to."
Goodman said the play of import Stacia Robertson and Stephanie Bairstow would be important against their athletic opponents from the Rangers and Spectres.
Meanwhile, Bendigo Bank Braves gun recruit Tony Lewis takes on his former club, Dandenong for the first time on Saturday night.
Braves' coach Ben Harvey will look for the likes of Lewis, Michael Vigor, Taylor Bell and Jordan Vandenberg to have an impact in the key.
Grant Johnson, 23 points per game; Chris Hogan, Josh Wilcher and Kevin Probert can be damaging from the three-point arc.
The Braves play at Nunawading on Sunday.
Saturday night's play on the West Bendigo showcourt tips off with the women's match at 6pm and will be followed by the men's clash at 8pm.