THERE is a host of top-eight match-ups in Week 19 men's SBL action but it's the Sunday clash between the Geraldton Buccaneers and the defending champion Cockburn Cougars that could have the biggest repercussions.

There are four matches on Friday night to start Week 19 action with the Mandurah Magic taking on the BOQ Perth Redbacks, the Rockingham Flames facing the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers, the Perry Lakes Hawks playing the Wanneroo Wolves and the Stirling Senators battling the Lakeside Lightning.

The Mandurah Magic bounced back from losing three straight games to beat Rockingham last Saturday to improve to a 13-11 record in seventh position.

They now host the Perth Redbacks on Friday at Mandurah Aquatic & Recreation Centre with the Redbacks having won four of their last five to be looking good in fourth position at 14-9.

The Rockingham Flames might be all but out of the finals race in 11th spot at 9-14 but they have won three of their last five and host the eighth-placed South West Slammers on Friday at Mike Barnett Sports Complex who need to win to continue to hold onto their spot in the top-eight.

The Perry Lakes Hawks remain in second position at 16-7 but need to keep winning to hold off Geraldton and on Friday they host the Wanneroo Wolves coming off four straight wins including a big upset of the Buccaneers last Saturday.

The Stirling Senators host the Lakeside Lightning in the final Friday night game at Warwick Leisure Centre. The Senators might be out of the finals hunt but are still a more than capable line-up but the top-of-the-table Lightning will be a huge test to overcome.

Then on Saturday night, the BOQ Perth Redbacks host the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers, the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants take on the Kalamunda Eastern Suns, the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers battle the People's Choice Eagles, the Wanneroo Wolves face the Stirling Senators, the Lakeside Lightning battle the Rockingham Flames and Willetton Tigers host the Cockburn Cougars.

The Redbacks will be coming off their clash in Mandurah on Friday against the Magic to host the in-form Buccaneers in a top-four clash. Both Perth and Geraldton remain a chance to break into the top-two at the expense of Perry Lakes with a double-victory this weekend.

While there are plenty of clashes with top teams this weekend, the bottom two sides Goldfields and Kalamunda also do battle at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium on Saturday.

The Giants are looking to snap an 11-game losing run and win just their second game at home while the Suns come into the weekend on an eight-game slide and are 0-11 on the road.

The Slammers and Eagles meet in another top-eight clash when the eighth-placed Slammers host the fifth-placed Eagles who sit on a 14-10 record.

The Wolves then back up after playing away to the Hawks on Friday to host the Stirling Senators on Saturday at the Joondalup Basketball Stadium with the Wolfpack trying to move further up inside the top-eight.

The top-placed Lightning then looks to extend their lead atop the SBL standings hosting the 11th-placed Rockingham at the Lakeside Recreation Centre.

The Willetton Tigers take on the Cockburn Cougars at Willetton Basketball Stadium with the Tigers playing their only game of the weekend looking to win to try and re-enter the top-eight while the Cougars also need to win and try to get closer to eighth spot.

The round concludes on Sunday at midday when the defending champion Cockburn Cougars hosts the Sun City Plumbing Geraldton Buccaneers in a massive encounter.

The Cougars will need to knock off the Buccaneers at Wally Hagan Stadium but it's a big task against one of the genuine championship contender, but Cockburn is defending champions and won't want to miss out on the chance to defend their title.

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin