Doug Gillett | 23rd July 2011| News Mail Bundaberg

BUNDABERG Bulls coach Danny Page believes his team will pave a path towards the Queensland Basketball League play-offs with hard-work and persistence.

The Bulls will face Ipswich today in a tough battle to keep their finals dream alive and build upon a three-game winning streak.

Ipswich sits one rung ahead of Bulls in eighth place on the Queensland Basketball League ladder.

With only four games remaining until the end of Queensland Basketball League fixtures Page said his team must battle to earn a spot in the play-offs

“We're still a mathematical chance of making the finals,” he said.

“The team has put an awful lot of hard work in recent weeks and if they continue to play hard the winning streak will continue.”

Page said the team would need to stay on their toes and guard against the athletic and speedy Ipswich outfit.

“Ipswich is a good team,” he said.

“They're fast and they know how to move the ball and create scoring opportunities.

“They've got discipline and they play well at home.”

The Bulls will enter tomorrow's match against the 11th-placed Toowoomba as favourites.

Page said his team would need to keep its eye on the prize and play with the same enthusiasm as it does in the opening match.

“It can be hard work backing up the next day but the guys are fighting fit and I know they're keen to get out there and show what they can do,” he said.

The Bears will enter matches against Ipswich and Toowoomba brimming with confidence this weekend on the back of a five-game winning streak.

Coach Dean Page said the encounter against Ipswich would test his team but was confident the Bears winning form would continue.

“It's going to be another tough weekend for us,” he said.

Ipswich sits at the top of the southern pool and has established a reputation for an athletic attack-centred brand of basketball.

Page said his team had found a rhythm in recent matches and was equipped to weather the might of Ipswich.

“The team is playing some excellent basketball,” he said.

“I can't fault the entire team at the moment. We're leading in to the play-offs nicely.”

Bears will enter tomorrow's match against Toowoomba as favourites.

Page said while the southern team had struggled in recent matches, it featured a core of talented players who needed to be watched.

“They have some key players who could create some problems on us if we don't keep an eye on them,” he said.

The Bears lead the central pool of the Queensland Basketball competition and are now playing to try and secure a home court quarter-final.

“We're one win away from having the quarter-final here,” he said.

“I know that's something both the players and the fans want.”