THE teams sit at opposite ends of the WNBL ladder, but Demi Skinner insists Bendigo Spirit have nothing to fear in their Saturday night clash against Southside Flyers.
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Despite taking a short step back in a loss to Perth Lynx last weekend, the first-year Spirit forward insists the team is in a good place and above all eager to prove itself against the championship favourites.
"We're looking forward to it ... we know we are getting better every week and we are right up for the challenge," Skinner said.
"We had some rough patches in last weekend's game, but that happens. We're keen to make amends.
"They have talented players in all positions on the court, so it's about being smart and playing the scouts and doing what we do well."
The Spirit have lost twice this season to the Flyers and would love nothing more than to get one back on the ladder leaders, to help set up a more amiable final two weeks of the season against non-finalists Perth, Sydney Uni Flames and Townsville Fire.
They need only cast their minds back two weekends for a reminder of just what they are capable of, following a stirring win over the defending champions and guaranteed finalists Canberra.
Coach Tracy York earlier in the week pinpointed defence as the area most in need of improvement for her team and vowed there would be extra work on the practice court this week to address those concerns.
Skinner confirmed York was true to her word.
"It was a very big factor in the game, but we really hit our straps on Tuesday night by concentrating on defence for the whole two hours," she said.
"It was what we needed and what we need to implement to get better. Putting up 81 on the board (against Perth) is a winning score, but it's then about stopping the other team.
"Defence has been a big factor for us all season, but I'm sure we are getting there."
Plenty of eyes will no doubt be on young gun Shyla Heal, who posted a career-high 24 points in the win against Canberra, only to top that mark with 30 against the Lynx.
The Spirit will don pink jerseys against the Flyers to raise crucial breast cancer awareness and highlight the work of the Bendigo-based OTIS Foundation, which provides retreat accommodation at no cost to those dealing with the challenges of breast cancer.
Skinner said she and her teammates were proud to lend their support.
"It great being able to have rounds like the pink round, it obviously hits home for a lot of people," she said.
"It's great we can step out on the court and show that we're about more than just basketball and there's meaning behind what we do."
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