Game Preview: Lightning vs Flames

3/NOV/2007 – Sit back and strap in folks, this is going to be good. The undefeated Flames, racking up wins at will, scoring 83 points per game and are still without Eva Afeaki come face-to-face with the preseason title favourites boasting Jenny Whittle, Renae Camino, Nivea Player of the Week Tracy Gahan, Jess Foley and Sam Woosnam in Adelaide.

Adelaide v Sydney Uni, Distinctive Homes Dome, Sunday November 4, 2pm

Oh, and there is the small fact World Champion Opal Erin Phillips makes her much anticipated return to the WNBL after a knee reconstruction.

The potency of the Flames offence is almost scary. Nat Porter nets 23.2ppg (2nd in the league), Alicia Poto 17.2ppg (5th), Michele Musselwhite 12.2ppg and Kristen Veal averages 10.0ppg and their defence is strong as well, in particular the amazing rebound work of Poto, who has been a revelation under the paint this season.

The same can be said for Adelaide who score 80 points per game themselves and concede just three more per game than Sydney with 73. The teams are head and shoulders above the rest at the moment and match-up pretty evenly across the board.

Given the teams are deep and strong both offensively and defensively, the result could come down to the winner of one of the many stellar one-on-one battles. Porter v Whittle, Poto v Camino, Musselwhite v Gahan and Veal v Foley are just to name a few. The talent on show her is phenomenal.

The Flames head in slight favourites but because they will be backing up from a game in Perth on Friday night it will act as a big leveller here, testing their strength and fitness. Their performance will be a good indicator of whether or not they have the ticker to win the 2007/08 title.

"It all feels a little surreal," Phillips said. "It doesn't quite feel like I'm going to be playing and it probably won't feel real until I'm out there as it has been so long since I've played a game."

A massive test for both teams. It will show who is on the right track. Almost impossible to pick a winner.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sydney Uni 25, Adelaide 17.

Who's hot?: The Adelaide Lightning guards will know they are in a big time game when they face off with the in-form Alicia Poto. She stands 163cm, and behind Tracy Gahan, is the leading rebounder in both teams.

We need a big game from: Jess Mahony is due for a big game. Limited court time due to the wealth of talent in the Lightning team but needs to score more than 2.8 points per game.