A SATURDAY night showdown between the Bendigo Braves and Hobart Chargers looms as a potential championship decider sneak preview.
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The east conference leading Bendigo Braves enter the home contest with a SEABL best 12-3 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, Hobart heads the south conference standings with an 11-3 record, bolstered by a hard-fought three-point win against Mount Gambier Pioneers last round.
The Chargers have won four of their last five games; a record replicated by the Bendigo.
Coach Ben Harvey's team has stared down some impressive challenges in recent weeks, including reigning national champions Mount Gambier and arch-rivals Ballarat Miners, but there's a feeling this could be the biggest test to date.
"They are well coached by Anthony Stewart, who has been there as a player and coach - it will be a tough contest and that's what we are expecting," he said.
"They are a quality team who have done really well this year and we're looking forward to the challenge.
"There's no injuries, our team's very fit right now. Obviously (Hobart) will play two games this weekend, but have got us first.
"I expect our team to go out there and perform well."
The Chargers head to Bendigo loaded with potential match-winners.
Jarrod Weeks, a former teammate of Braves point guard Kevin White at the Illawarra Hawks, leads the visitors with 21 points per game.
The 26-year-old only this month signed a new NBL deal with the Cairns Taipans.
He will likely go head-to-head with Jeremy Kendle, who scorched the Miners for 34 points last week and has nailod 10 of his three-point shots in the past two games.
Import Shane Southwell is the Chargers' leading rebounder with 7.2 per game, to go alongside his 19.8ppg.
Another former NBL player Tom Wright, who had stints at the Sydney King and US college, is averaging 14. 1 points, and Zach White (12ppg) stepped up against the Pioneers last week with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
For Braves player White, the clash will be his second in a row against a former team.
The point guard, who is averaging 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, spent the 2015 season with the Chargers.
Harvey labelled White as a "difference-maker" in games this season where the Braves had been seriously challenged.
"He's a big part of why we are winning, as is Jarrod Weeks for them," he said.
"I'm expecting a tough contest and Whitey, being one of the best defenders in the league, will definitely be trying to mark Weeksy and limit his opportunities."
Import Damian Johnson is the other key to the Braves' top ranked defence.
The American leads the league with 42 blocked shots.
