Tip-off: Friday, February 3, 7.30pm (local), State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne

TV: ONE, 10.30pm (check local guides)

Last time they met: Adelaide 95 (Weigh 24, Simpson 18, Warren 16) d Melbourne 89 (Mills 32, Tragardh 18, Dorsey 14), Round 7, 2011/12, Adelaide Arena

On the rebound?
For the Tigers, things weren’t meant to turn out the way they did last Friday in Wollongong.

After a tough 10-game stretch – with every game was against a top-five opponent and without reinforcement for the departed Patty Mills – the last-placed Hawks were meant to be the first stepping stone out of the mire.

Nobody told Wollongong though, and Melbourne sank deeper into a growing hole with a 22-point loss. Despite now being two games behind fourth place, there is still light at the end of the tunnel for the Tigers.

Four of their last seven games are against the bottom three and they play only three road games. But the road to the playoffs must start with a win over Adelaide on Friday night.

On the rebounds
After watching Wollongong’s efforts, 36ers young gun Mitch Creek knows the key to beating the Tigers.

“It’s a case of getting on the boards against an undersized team like Melbourne,” he said.

“We’ve got DJ (Daniel Johnson) and Diamon (Simpson) who average over eight rebounds each, and if Steve (Weigh) and myself and a couple of guards can all grab at least two or three we should come out on top in the rebounds.”

Creek said when the 36ers control the glass they are “a tough team to knock over”. In five wins Adelaide have pulled in six defensive rebounds above their average.

Melbourne have been out-rebounded by an average of eight a game this season and collect just 63 per cent of rebounds at their defensive end.

Minding Myron
Adelaide coach Marty Clarke has been using the 195cm Creek as a defensive foil for the toughest guards around the league, and he may well get the job on new Tigers import Myron Allen.

“He looks like a crafty type of player, a lefty, he can shoot it pretty comfortably,” Creek said.

“I think it’s a case of using my length to dictate his shot and put him in two minds. If he misses his first shot I can get in his ear a bit.”

Allen has impressed with 15 rebounds, seven assists and six rebounds in his first two games, showing the strength and speed needed to cope with the physical fullcourt pressure in the iiNet NBL.

Since his debut, however, the Tigers have scored just 146 points at 42 per cent from the field.

Melbourne had been among the league-leaders for much of the season at around 45 per cent, and will be hoping once Allen gets more familiar with their sets his teammates will get back into their rhythm.

The wrap
Despite their poor season the 36ers players present a strong front and view this game as a big chance to end their four-game losing streak.

Melbourne have lost six straight but have arguably the most athletic team in the competition, and earlier in the year captain Tommy Greer said they were looking to play a similar style to Perth.

But with centre Matthew Burston’s injuries and the lack of a replacement for Mills, the Tigers haven’t had the depth to utilise their physical tools in the open court.

Adelaide will want to make this a track meet; it will be interesting to see whether the Tigers take the Sixers on or look to slow them down.

Prediction: 36ers by 4