IF THE Cockburn Cougars want to be genuine women's SBL championship contenders in 2014 then this weekend is a big chance to prove it with a double-header up against the league's top-two teams, the Lakeside Lightning and Rockingham Flames.

Week 11 of the women's SBL begins on Friday night with the Lakeside Lightning playing the Soprano Lady Cougars at Lakeside Recreation Centre with the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames facing the Schweigen East Perth Eagles at Mike Barnett Sports Complex and the Perry Lakes Hawks battling the Stirling Senators at the WA Basketball Centre.

All three matches tip-off at 6.30pm.

The Cougars' massive weekend begins on Friday night hitting the road, albeit a short trip, to take on the Lightning.

Cockburn comes into the weekend with a 6-4 record to sit in sixth position while heading into Friday's match, Lakeside has now won its last three matches to sit on a 9-2 record.

Lakeside is also yet to lose at home this season winning all five matches to date.

The two teams have already played this season back in Week 8 with the Cougars beating the Lightning 72-60 at Wally Hagan Stadium.

The league-leading Flames will look to win their 13th straight match to start the 2014 season when they host the Eagles. East Perth currently is on a six-game losing run with a 2-10 record on the season to date.

The Hawks then take on the Senators with Perry Lakes looking to snap a three-game losing run and improve on a 4-6 record while Stirling looks to stay in touch for a top-four spot. The Senators are currently on a 5-3 record in fifth position.

There are then four matches on Saturday night starting with three that tip-off at 6pm with the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers facing the Joondalup Wolves at Eaton Recreation Centre, the Soprano Lady Cougars battling the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames at Wally Hagan Stadium and the Stirling Senators tackling the Lakeside Lightning at Warwick Leisure Centre.

Then at 6.30pm, the final match of the weekend takes place at Ray Owen Sports Centre between the Kalamunda Eastern Suns and the Willetton Tigers.

The Slammers host the Wolves with both making their only appearances of the weekend.

South West scored a win last week over East Perth to improve to a 3-7 record to remain in touch of eighth spot while the defending champion Joondalup has won four of its last five matches to be in third position with a 7-3 record.

The Cougars then back up their clash on Friday with the Lightning by taking on the unbeaten and league-leading Flames at home on Saturday.

The two teams have already met this season in Week 6 with Rockingham winning comfortably 83-55 at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Senators back up their clash from Friday against the Hawks by taking on the Lightning on Saturday with Lakeside also having played Cockburn on Friday.

The Eastern Suns and Tigers then turn out for the only time of the weekend to face one another.

The Suns currently sit on a 5-6 record in seventh position having won three of their last four matches while last year's minor premiers the Tigers are struggling 3-8 having lost four of their last five.

The Suns and Tigers have already met this season on Anzac Day with Kalamunda scoring a thumping 80-52 victory at Willetton Basketball Stadium.

WEEK 11 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Lakeside Lightning v Soprano Lady Cougars, Lakeside Recreation Centre 6.30pm
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v Schweigen East Perth Eagles, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm
Perry Lakes Hawks v Stirling Senators, WA Basketball Centre 6.30pm

SATURDAY
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers v Joondalup Wolves, Eaton Recreation Centre 6pm
Soprano Lady Cougars v Orange Autos Rockingham Flames, Wally Hagan Stadium 6pm
Stirling Senators v Lakeside Lightning, Warwick Leisure Centre 6pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Willetton Tigers, Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin