A HIGHLY anticipated Men's SBL season for 2016 begins this weekend and fresh off the Perth Wildcats winning another NBL championship, there is plenty of things to look out for as the action gets underway.

Corban Wroe (Stirling Senators), Rhys Vague (East Perth Eagles) and Ben Dixon (Perry Lakes Hawks) are set to get underway in the SBL in 2016 fresh off being part of the Wildcats' championship victory. All three players hit the floor during the Grand Final Series victory over the New Zealand Breakers.

Cody Ellis also saw time in the NBL playoffs with the Illawarra Hawks and he is back again this time with his dad Mike taking over as coach of the Stirling Senators.

Joel Wagner (Perth Redbacks), Michael Vigor (Redbacks), Matthew Adekponya (Geraldton Buccaneers), Damian Matacz (Joondalup Wolves), Gavin Field (Cockburn Cougars), Drew Williamson (East Perth Eagles), Nic Cody (Willetton Tigers), Damien Scott (Tigers), Jarrad Prior (Kalamunda Eastern Suns), Rob Cassir (Perry Lakes Hawks), Ben Purser (Hawks) and Adrian Majstrovich (Stirling Senators) are among the other players in the SBL this year with at least some NBL experience.

The opening round action begins with three matches on Friday night with the East Perth Eagles taking on the Willetton Tigers, the Kalamunda Eastern Suns hosting the Perth Redbacks and the Stirling Senators facing the Lakeside Lightning at the new Warwick Stadium.

Saturday night's action begins with the Mandurah Magic hosting the Geraldton Buccaneers at their 2016 adopted home of Rockingham's Mike Barnett Sports Complex and the Goldfields Giants facing the Perry Lakes Hawks.

Then the Perth Redbacks host the Cockburn Cougars, the Willetton Tigers play the Rockingham Flames and the South West Slammers take on the Joondalup Wolves in a rematch of last year's Grand Final at Eaton Recreation Centre.

The round wraps up on Sunday afternoon with the Lakeside Lightning playing the Geraldton Buccaneers at Lakeside Recreation Centre.

It looks set to be the beginning of an exciting Men's SBL season.

Deservedly the Joondalup Wolves appear the team to beat coming off last year's championship and having welcomed back Reece Maxwell and added a second import in Bobby Evans to a stacked team.

But the Willetton Tigers, Stirling Senators, Cockburn Cougars, Geraldton Buccaneers and Perry Lakes Hawks look to be the biggest threats to them achieving back to back championships.

While the East Perth Eagles, Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Perth Redbacks, Lakeside Lightning, Rockingham Flames, South West Slammers, Mandurah Magic and Goldfields Giants all have enough positivity to suggest they are all capable of earning a playoff spot.

To get ready for the opening round of the season, here is a look in more detail at how all 14 Men's SBL clubs are shaping up:
COCKBURN COUGARS 
EAST PERTH EAGLES 
GERALDTON BUCCANEERS 
GOLDFIELDS GIANTS 
JOONDALUP WOLVES 
KALAMUNDA EASTERN SUNS 
LAKESIDE LIGHTNING 
MANDURAH MAGIC 
PERRY LAKES HAWKS 
PERTH REDBACKS 
ROCKINGHAM FLAMES 
SOUTH WEST SLAMMERS 
STIRLING SENATORS 
WILLETTON TIGERS 

WEEK 1 MEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
East Perth Eagles v Willetton Tigers, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 8.30pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Perth Redbacks, Ray Owen Sports Centre 8.30pm
Stirling Senators v Lakeside Lightning, Warwick Stadium 8.30pm

SATURDAY
Mandurah Magic v Geraldton Buccaneers, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 7.30pm
Goldfields Giants v Perry Lakes Hawks, Niels Hansen Stadium 7.30pm
Perth Redbacks v Cockburn Cougars, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre 8pm
Willetton Tigers v Rockingham Flames, Willetton Basketball Stadium 8pm
South West Slammers v Joondalup Wolves, Eaton Recreation Centre 8pm

SUNDAY
Lakeside Lightning v Geraldton Buccaneers, Lakeside Recreation Centre 2pm

Article by Chris Pike