THE Lakeside Lightning won't be taking the Mandurah Magic lightly in Week 8 of the Men's SBL competition as they attempt to enter the top eight and the Cockburn Cougars tackle the East Perth Eagles mindful of their threats as they look to remain near the top.

The round is also highlighted by the league-leading defending champion Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves (6-1) facing a trip to Kalgoorlie to take on the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants (6-4) on Saturday night, but there are tremendous match ups across the board.

On Friday night, the Bethanie Stirling Senators (6-4) take on the Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers (6-3) while the Lakeside Lightning (4-5) play the Mandurah Magic (2-7) and the Textile WA Perth Redbacks (2-6) host the Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames (6-3).

Then on Saturday night as well as the Giants hosting the Wolves, the S&K Electrical Geraldton Buccaneers (7-3) host the Print Sync South West Slammers (4-5) and the Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles (2-7) take on the Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars (8-2).

The Willetton Tigers also face the Perry Lakes Hawks (5-5), the Kalamunda Eastern Suns (0-9) battle the Stirling Senators and the Rockingham Flames play the Mandurah Magic.

The Lightning take on the Magic on Friday night at Lakeside Recreation Centre and coach Sam Oatman by no means is taking Mandurah lightly considering it’s a team consisting of the likes of Taylor Mullenax, Ben Smith, Trevor Setty, Jarrad Jackson and Daniel Florance.

Lakeside is coming off a loss to the Senators last week where they fought back from Stirling making a 21-2 start to at least make a game of it, but it proved too big of a start to make up.

The Lightning now sits just outside the top eight with a 4-5 record and need to win to be a chance of ending Week 8 in the eight, but Oatman is fully focused on preparing for a tough Magic outfit.

"Mandurah is much better than their record indicates. We know that," Oatman said.

"Setty, Mullenax, Smith, and Jackson can play. Our guys will need to be really focused in order to get the win."

Also on Friday night, the Tigers look to continue their hot recent form against the Senators at Warwick Stadium. Willetton's last two games has seen them beat the Suns by 81 points in Alan Black's last game in charge as coach and then the Slammers by 30 in Stephen Black's coaching debut.

Willetton is also with new import Charles Funches but it should be significantly tougher on Friday against a Senators team sitting in sixth spot with a 6-4 record and with Cody Ellis leading the way with plenty of help from Kyle Lindbergh, Jayden Coburn, Corban Wroe, Tom Witts and AJ Majstrovich.

The other Friday fixture pits the Redbacks up against the Flames. Perth needs to win to remain in touch with the top eight having lost their last four games. It won't be easy against the Flames, though, who enter the round in fifth spot at 6-3 with Cooper and Taylor Land in outstanding form.

Then on Saturday night, the Giants attempt to continue their form from last week where they beat the Magic at home by hosting the defending champion Wolves who sit on top of the standings and are in imposing form having now welcomed back Greg Hire last weekend.

The Buccs are also in some hot form having won their last four games including a road double last weekend against the Hawks and Senators. They host the Slammers on Saturday night at Active West Stadium with South West looking to bounce back from losses to the Tigers and Wolves last weekend.

The Tigers then back up their game against the Senators on Friday night by playing the Hawks at Willetton Basketball Stadium on Saturday night. Perry Lakes comes into the contest having lost four of their last five games and in search of some winning form once again.

The Eastern Suns put in a better effort last week losing to the Flames by just 10 points after going down to the Tigers by 81 on Anzac Day, but they are still searching for their first win of 2016 when they host the Senators on Saturday night at Ray Owen Recreation Centre.

The Suns have now lost their last 24 matches having lost the last 15 of 2015 and now first nine of 2016.

The battle of the Mike Barnett Sports Complex co-tenants takes place on Saturday with both the Magic and Flames coming off matches on Friday before locking horns with one another.

Then finally on Saturday night, the Cougars look to improve on their 8-2 record by taking on the struggling Eagles at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

East Perth might have won just twice so far this season, but a team featuring Amen Osayande, Drew Williamson, Rhys Vague, Thomas Korf and company is capable of much better.

That's why Cougars coach Matt Parsons is expecting a tough battle for his second placed team if they want to leave Morley with their ninth win of the season.

"This is a tough game. The Eagles at their house do a good job taking teams out of the comfort zones and force them into their style of tempo that they enjoy," Parsons said.

"It will be critical for us to value our possessions, take care of the ball and ensure we execute our plans. They have a number of perimeter threats and we have to ensure we just compete for the full 48 minutes."

WEEK 8 MEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Bethanie Stirling Senators v Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers, Warwick Stadium 8.30pm
Lakeside Lightning v Mandurah Magic, Lakeside Recreation Centre 8.30pm
Textile WA Perth Redbacks v Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames, Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre 8.30pm

SATURDAY
Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants v Merriwa Tavern & Bistro City of Joondalup Wolves, Niels Hansen Basketball Stadium 7.30pm
S&K Electrical Contracting Geraldton Buccaneers v Print Sync South West Slammers, Active West Stadium 7.30pm
Vorian Agency East Perth Eagles v Lapa Brazilian BBQ Restaurant Cockburn Cougars, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 8pm
Goodlife Homes Willetton Tigers v Perry Lakes Hawks, Willetton Basketball Stadium 8pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Bethanie Stirling Senators, Ray Owen Sports Centre 8.30pm
Nags Head Tavern Rockingham Flames v Mandurah Magic, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 8.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Kez Creations