THE Stirling Senators, Cockburn Cougars, Lakeside Lightning, Kalamunda Eastern Suns, Perth Redbacks and Mandurah Magic remain locked in a battle for playoff spots setting up a crucial Friday and Saturday night as part of Week 15 Women's SBL action.

With the Joondalup Wolves, Willetton Tigers, Rockingham Flames and Perry Lakes Hawks having now put together some separation in the top four, that leaves six teams fighting for the remaining four playoff positions.

The Perth Redbacks (8-7) sit in fifth spot ahead of the Lakeside Lightning (8-8), Kalamunda Eastern Suns (7-8) and Cockburn Cougars (7-8) rounding out the top eight.

The Mandurah Magic (6-8) and Stirling Senators (5-10) do remain a playoff chance but winning their games in Week 15 could go a long way to determining if they stay in the hunt or not.

There are three matches on Friday night with the Bethanie Stirling Senators playing the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves, the Orange Autos Rockingham Flames taking on the Print Sync South West Slammers and the Perry Lakes Hawks battling the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars.

Then on Saturday night, the Print Sync South West Slammers host the Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles, the Texture WA Perth Redbacks take on the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers and the Mandurah Magic face the Lakeside Lightning.

Friday night begins with the Senators facing a significant challenge against the Wolves at Warwick Stadium to try and keep in the playoff hunt.

Stirling was no match for the Wolfpack back in Week 10 at HBF Arena losing by 24 points but now the Senators need to find something. They currently sit two games out of a top eight position having lost their last two games.

Beating Joondalup is no easy task, though, with the Wolfpack remaining on top of the standings despite a four-point loss to the Tigers last Friday night. They quickly bounced back to beat the Lightning by nine points on Saturday and need to keep winning to stay on top.

The defending champion Flames remain in the race for top spot ahead of their clash with the Slammers. Rockingham has now won its last couple and has finally welcomed WNBL star Ifunanya Ibekwe into the line-up.

The Flames are just one loss behind the Wolves and they will be looking for a big win at home over a Slammers team with just the one win from 14 attempts so far in 2016.

The Friday night action concludes with the in-form Hawks hosting the Cougars at Bendat Basketball Centre. Perry Lakes recorded a strong 10-point win over the Redbacks last Friday to improve to 10-6 in fourth position.

The Cougars now take them on needing to win to remain in a playoff position with the Magic breathing down their neck following Cockburn's loss last Saturday night to the Tigers.

Then on Saturday night, the Slammers back up their clash with the Flames on Friday by taking on the bottom placed Eagles at Eaton Recreation Centre. Both teams have won just once so far this year and the winner could go a long way to avoiding the wooden spoon.

The Redbacks bounced back from their loss to the Hawks last Friday by beating the Eagles on Saturday, but they now face a much sterner challenge this Saturday up against the Tigers.

Willetton welcomed back Louella Tomlinson last weekend and the result was good wins over the Wolfpack and Cougars to keep the Tigers in second position.

Perth, though, needs to keep winning to remain in a playoff position. Another win and they could be as much as three games clear of the ninth placed Magic but a loss and they could be just one game safe.

The final game of the round is another crucial one as the Magic host the Lightning at Mike Barnett Sports Complex.

The Lightning lost twice last week to the Flames and Wolves leaving them vulnerable in seventh position at 8-8. The team most likely to knock them out of the playoffs is the Magic but Mandurah can't afford too many more slip ups at 6-8.

Lakeside coach Craig Mansfield knows how important Saturday night's game is and is hoping to take some winning momentum into next week's bye.

"The remainder of our games for the season are against teams right near us on the ladder and any finishing position between fourth and ninth is still possible," Mansfield said.

"This weekend is a huge game on the road against Magic, hopefully we can play well and wrap up what has been a heavy month for us. We then have a bye and an opportunity to prepare ourselves to have a big July to finish off the regular season."

WEEK 15 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Bethanie Stirling Senators v Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves, Warwick Stadium 6.30pm
Orange Autos Rockingham Flames v Print Sync South West Slammers, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm
Perry Lakes Hawks v Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars, Bendat Basketball Centre 6.30pm

SATURDAY
Print Sync South West Slammers v Schweigen Home Appliances East Perth Eagles, Eaton Recreation Centre 6pm
Texture WA Perth Redbacks v Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre 6pm
Mandurah Magic v Lakeside Lightning, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 6.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin