PERTH coach Rob Beveridge insists Cairns remain a dark horse in the NBL premiership race as talk centres on a seemingly inevitable finals series between his Wildcats and last year's champions the New Zealand Breakers.

THE battle to cement an NBL play-off spot won't be the only motivation at the Cairns Convention Centre tomorrow night.

THREE Queensland teams continue to battle it out for the remaining two NBL playoff spots and Taipans centre Ian Crosswhite isn't about to get ahead of himself.

THE Taipans have escaped from a home Reptile Rumble with a crucial win after trailing by as many as eight in the final term.