Southland Sharks vs Southern Huskies - Friday @ 7pm
Broadcast: live from 7pm on SKY Sports, Stuff.co.nz, TribeSports App, www.pickandroll.com.au (AUS only)
The Sharks will start warm favourites here as they continue to warm-up for the Final 4. It's the second time in the space of a few weeks that the Huskies have made a visit to Invercargill, but this time they come with a very different looking team given Tre Nichols (injured) has headed home and been replaced by Harry Froling, who will match up with Alex Pledger. Craig Moller also missed the most recent clash and will be ready for this one. One player to keep a close eye on is Todd Blanchfield, who continues to deliver the goods in recent weeks and looks primed for a big Final 4 weekend. Jarrad Weeks is expected back after compassionate leave last round. The Huskies aren't without a chance after last week's big confidence-boosting win, but they will need to find a way to match Southland's guards, which may prove too much.
SHARKS
Starting 5 35. Alex Pledger (centre) 97. Jarrad Weeks (guard) 22. Hyrum Harris (guard/forward) 2. Todd Blanchfield (guard) 15. Tom Vodanovich (forward)
Bench 11. Dom Kelman-Poto (forward) 14. Tai Wynyard (centre) 25. Andrew Wheeler (guard) 45. Tinashe Matambanadzo (guard) 4. Roberto Nelson (guard) *questionable 2. Tom Cowie (guard)
Coach: Judd Flavell Assistant Coach: Mark Bell Manager: Troy Paulin Physio: Hayden Sproat
From the Coach - Judd Flavell
The Huskies lineup is likely to look quite different from when we played then last with the return of Craig Moller and the addition of Harry Froling. This will provide different challenges in the scout preparing for this game . Our defence has been a strength over the past month and we will look to keep this going as we know we have the offensive weapons to maintain our scoring. Every game we have left before heading to Final Four is vitally important and we are looking forward to the match ups and challenge this game will provide in front of what looks like already being a record crowd for the season.
HUSKIES
Starting 5 Jalen Billups Craig Moller(C) Mason Bragg Marcel Jones Harry Froling
Bench Tiri Masunda Jordan Vandenberg Lochlan Cummings
From the Coach - Anthony Stewart
We’ve missed out on the playoffs but that doesn’t mean that we still don’t have something to prove. We know we can mix it with the best of them in this league so these last two games will let us show everyone how far we’ve come since the start of the season. The Sharks are finishing just above us so it’d be nice to put one over on them. We’ve been to the stadium before so we know what sort of welcome we can expect and we’re relishing it.