KEY MATCH-UPS

TIANNA TIAN HAWKINS v KAYLA THORNTON

HAWKINS will need all of her WNBA experience to shut down Southside small forward Kayla Thornton, who brings her own pedigree from three seasons with the Dallas Wings.

Thornton is averaging a team-high 18 points poin and 9.5 rebounds per game from the Flyers’ four-spot. fou Hawkins is in the only player in the league to average more in both categories es (24 ppg, 11 rebounds) setting up a tantalising duel between two of the top p imports in the WNBL class. With both teams undefeated (2-0 v 3--0) the battle between these towering ng Americans will be decisive.

LAUREN LAU NICHOLSON v REBECCA COLE

IT only goes to show how classy Lauren Nicholson has been the Fire over the past two seasons that Friday night’s six-point showing against Adelaide ranks as a disappointment. d

Nicholson is still averaging 20.5 points per game this season and will command strong defensive de attention n every time she steps on the court. Rebecca Cole is one of the most st ferocious defensive guards in the league e and will hassle Nicholson at every turn. With six steals and two blocks in three e games, Cole will be a formidable opponent nt in the way of Nicholson putting up another her big night on offense.

MIK MIKAELA RUEF v LAUREN JACKSON

AUSTRALIAN legend Lauren Jackson is i basketball royalty on both sides of the Pacific. P One of the greatest post-players in the game’s history, don’t let the 41year-old’s age fool you - this WNBA Hall of Famer has got plenty left in the tank. Charged C with stopping Jackson will be Mikaela Ruef. R Despite giving ving up six centimetres to the 196cm Jackson, Ruef’s uef’s defensive prowess was impressive against st the Lightning. It will take a team effort to stop p Jackson from winding back the clock to o dominate the Fire’s front-court, with Lara a Mcspadden and Tianna Hawkins joining ng in the fray.