Fire’s title defence on the line in double- header

THE Townsville Fire are adamant they can put last weekend’s agonising one- point loss to Sydney behind them as they prepare for arguably their toughest road trip of the season.

The Fire’s WNBL title defence could be on the line this weekend with a daunting Victorian doubleheader against second- placed Dandenong on Saturday night before taking on arch- rivals Bendigo on Sunday.

Townsville’s only previous trip to Dandenong in Round 3 produced a 92- 65 hammering — their worst loss of the season — and the Rangers will surely have a point to prove after giv- ing up top spot on the ladder to Sydney last weekend.

If the Fire can get past that hurdle, the stakes will be even higher against Bendigo with both teams level on 11 wins, eight losses in the battle for fourth place and a playoff berth.

Townsville holds a 2- 1 lead in the series and the Spirit would need to win by at least 11 points to grab the split, but the visitors have struggled to finish teams off in pressure situations.

The Fire missed a golden opportunity to seal their finals fate on their home floor last weekend, blowing a nine- point lead early in the fourth quarter against Sydney to lose 76- 75.

The match came down to the final 2.4 seconds before two missed free throws from Suzy Batkovic and a missed put- back from Mia Murray denied the home side a miracle finish.

Fire forward Darcee Garbin conceded the Sydney loss was a bitter pill to swallow, but it made the team determined to bounce back.