THE Goldfields Giants and Rockingham Flames have the big challenge of winning twice on the road inside little more than 12 hours against higher-ranked opponents if they are to cause the upset and reach the men's SBL grand final for 2015.

The minor premier Joondalup Wolves and third-seeded South West Slammers sit in prime position to book their place in next Saturday night's grand final at Bendat Basketball Centre after both recorded Game 1 semi-final victories on the road last weekend.

Now this Saturday night both Game 2's will take place at 7.30pm with the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers facing the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants at Eaton Recreation Centre, and the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves playing the Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames at Joondalup Basketball Stadium.

If either, or both, of the Giants and Flames win those Game 2 semi-final battles on the road, then the Game 3's will take place at midday at the same venues on Sunday with the grand final positions at stake.

Starting with the battle between the Slammers and Giants, Goldfields put together a terrific run to firstly qualify for the playoffs for the first time in three years, and to then beat the second-seeded Geraldton Buccaneers in two games in the quarter finals.

However, the Slammers proved too good in a hostile environment in Kalgoorlie last Saturday night to win an overtime thriller 116-111 and now it leaves the Giants with a huge task.

They need to travel to Eaton needing to beat the Slammers on Saturday night and then Sunday to reach the grand final, but if Jay Bowie, Jacob Holmen and Mathiang Muo have big performances, there's no reason to write the Giants off yet.

Meanwhile, Tre Nichols (27 possessions, seven assists, six rebounds), Wade Hitchcock (20 points), Brian Voelkel (19 points, 18 rebounds, six assists), Trent Worthington (17 points, 10 boards), Jordan Hickert (14 points, five rebounds) and Aaron Edwards (11 points) all had big performances last week for the Slammers.

And now they will welcome back playing-coach Ty Harrelson this week and if those players all perform well with help from Harrelson, the Slammers are very well placed to reach the grand final for 2015.

In the other contest, the Wolves ended up finishing the regular season three games clear on top of the standings to confirm themselves as championship favourites, but they had to work hard in the quarter finals to overcome the Perry Lakes Hawks in three games.

The Flames also needed three games to advance past the Cockburn Cougars, and then in the semi-final Game last Friday night in Rockingham, it was the Wolves who prevailed 99-88 to take the one-nil series lead and to need just one of two wins at home this weekend to make the grand final.

Last Friday night, Trian Iliadis was terrific for the Wolves with 32 points, 12 rebounds and five assists and he had good support from Kevin Davis (15 points, 16 boards, five assists), Seb Salinas (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Joel Questel (13 points).

With Sean Easther, Rob Huntington and Damian Matacz also contributing well, it just went to highlight the enormous depth the Wolfpack possess.

While Rockingham might not be able to compete with the depth of Joondalup, some individual brilliance could still keep them in with a chance of making the grand final if Taylor and Cooper Land lead the way with help from Tom Remmerswaal, Ryan Godfrey and company.

MEN'S SBL QUARTER-FINAL GAME 2'S
SATURDAY
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers v Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants, Eaton Recreation Centre 7.30pm
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves v Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames, Joondalup Basketball Stadium 7.30pm

MEN'S SBL QUARTER-FINAL GAME 3'S (IF REQUIRED)
SUNDAY
Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers v Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants, Eaton Recreation Centre 12pm
Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves v Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames, Joondalup Basketball Stadium 12pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin