The Perth Wildcats head to Cairns on Friday night not only looking to win and bounce back from last week's tight loss to New Zealand, but to also achieve the rare feat of winning all four games in far north Queensland having already beaten Townsville twice and the Taipans earlier in the season.
The Wildcats have been in outstanding road form this season winning seven from 11 games and that has included eight and 21-point wins in Townsville, and a grinding 70-64 victory in Cairns back on November 13.
While the wins in Townsville have continued the 'Cats strong recent performances against the Crocodiles of past seasons, the win in Cairns back in November was the first time the Wildcats had won in Cairns since November 22, 2008.
Before that win earlier this season, the 'Cats had lost their last four games in Cairns with the Taipans now holding an overall edge at home over the Wildcats of 12-8 dating back to 1999.
The Wildcats will be looking to make it four from four now on trips to north Queensland this season when they take on the Taipans on Friday night, and it's a game with big ramifications for both teams.
The Wildcats had won six straight games heading into last week's top-of-the-ladder clash with New Zealand.
While New Zealand won the game by six points, it was a performance that the 'Cats came away from feeling they could build on and with the hope of still finishing on top spot, they now need to beat the Taipans on Friday in order to maintain pace with the Breakers.
However, Cairns needs to win also to keep pace with the third-placed Townsville and fourth-placed Gold Coast.
Cairns has won five of its last seven games now this season to improve to an 11-9 record as they contend with the 11-8 Crocs and 10-9 Blaze over third and fourth positions.
There will certainly be plenty of exciting match-ups all over the court with the teams having a clash of styles as well with Cairns liking a methodical half-court game, but the 'Cats liking to play an up-tempo, full-court type of game.
The big men battle pits Matt Knight, Luke Nevill, Shawn Redhage and Jesse Wagstaff up against Dusty Rychart, Ian Crosswhite and Alex Loughton. The back court contest will also be exciting as Damian Martin, Brad Robbins and Kevin Lisch lock horns with Jamar Wilson and Andrew Warren.
With that clash of styles, with both teams desperate to win with ladder implications at stake and both in good recent form, it certainly should be an exciting contest.
The action will be broadcast live on 91.3 SportFM (www.sportfm.com.au) from 5.30pm WA time on Friday night.
