Townsville Crocodiles v Cairns Taipans

Where and When: Saturday 6 February, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, 7.30pm (local)

Past Five Games:
Crocs: WLLWL
Taipans: WWLLL

Past Three Head-to Head:
Cairns Taipans 87-81 Townsville Crocs, Round 17, 2010 Townsville Crocs 73-64 Cairns Taipans, Round 11, 2009 Cairns Taipans 70-85 Townsville Crocs, Round 8, 2009

Season Series:
Townsville Crocs 2-1 Cairns Taipans

Current Standings:
Crocs 14-11 (3rd), Taipans 11-15 (7th)

The last time these two sides met, Townsville missed a golden opportunity to further enhance its claims for a finish on top of the ladder.

This time around, the Crocs will be desperate not to make the same mistake as the battle for top spot reaches its crescendo.

If the Crocs did what everyone expected them to do and beat the Taipans last time, percentage could very well be the only thing separating themselves from the top of the ladder right now.

However, they dropped that match 87-81 and, while finishing on top of the ladder is not out of the question, are now battling it out for a top-two spot.

That result might be looked back on as a potentially season-defining one for the Crocodiles and was a timely reminder for all title challengers not to take any matches for granted in this competition, especially so close to the playoffs race.

But with finals around the corner, the Crocs are in somewhat of a rut.

They have only won two of their last five matches and avoided a three-match losing streak by the skin of their teeth last weekend when they snuck home against the freefalling Adelaide 36ers 88-87.

This concerning Townsville trend will ensure the Taipans, already on a high courtesy of their recent form, are quietly confident heading into this match - especially with the last meeting between these two sides firmly at the front of their minds.

After four consecutive losses, Cairns has responded with two stunning victories in a row against championship contenders Perth and Townsville to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder.

And the Taipans, who are out of playoffs contention, would love nothing more than to continue their giant-killing ways against fierce state rival Townsville on Saturday and again when they meet New Zealand, which is also battling for a top-four spot, on February 13 in what will be Cairns' season finale.

But it should be remembered that Cairns has struggled for consistency all season and has only strung together three wins in a row twice this whole campaign.

For it to complete another hat-trick exclusively against top three teams would be one hell of an achievement.

Townsville has had Cairns' measure this season and there are no prizes for guessing who has caused it the most grief in each of their three encounters.

Corey Williams has averaged just over 21 points a match against the Taipans in 2009/10 and if he cuts loose again in front of the Crocs' home crowd then Cairns can expect to return to losing ways as Townsville strives to reach the top of the NBL mountain.

Sportal Tip: Crocs by 10