IT will be a must-win scenario when the Mount Gambier Pioneers host the Canberra Gunners tonight in Round 8 of the South East Australian Basketball League 2018 season.
Both sides have struggled to perform this season, with the Gunners win-less at the bottom of the ladder.
The Pioneers sit down in 12th place with three wins from eight games, with injury ravaging the side.
Recent games have seen the inclusion of NBL player Tim Coenraad to bolster the ranks, but he will not fly into town for tonight’s clash.
However, the Pioneers will welcome new recruit Sam McDaniel to the floor, along with the return of Lachie Hunter from the USA.
Tom Daly is still an outside chance of suiting up, but Brad Hill is not, while it was announced this week recruit Majok Deng has been released from his contract due to injury and NBA interests.
It all adds up to another tough round for the Pioneers, despite having the better win/loss ratio than the Gunners.
Canberra boasts the likes of Ben Allen, Daniel Joyce, Eric Gaff and Broderick Doran, who all shoot over the double figure average.
For the Pioneers, Erik Burdon, Luke Jamieson and Lewis Thomas have all achieved that feat, with Daly boasting a 28-point average after his two games.
Kyle Tipene has taken on a big role at the point guard position in Daly’s absence, returning 9.8 points-per-game, while Kane de Wit has shown plenty of heart to put his body on the line week in, week out.
Should Daly take to the floor it will release some of that pressure.
Jamieson and Thomas will have a big job to close down Allen and Gaff around the hoop.
Pioneers fans know only too well how dangerous Allen can be from outside the three-point arc, with a couple of big shots pushing the side into the playoffs when he wore the Mount Gambier strip.
Gaff is just as imposing, which provides the Gunners with some big offensive firepower.
The Pioneers have completed eight games, but only 11 remain at this stage from the 20-game season, with no decision from the league about replaying the cancelled fixture against Nunawading.
The game was called off after a delayed flight out of Melbourne for the Spectres, with the league still looking into the possibility of rescheduling the match.
However, the tyranny of distance could play against the Pioneers, with a tough task for the game to be scheduled at any other time.
That simply adds to the pressure of tonight’s game.
Coach Richard Hill said he hoped to go to the long weekend break with a five-and-five record to give the side a chance of reaching the playoffs, which needs to start tonight.
Another loss will be devastating for the season.
The positive is the Pioneers have been playing good basketball with the limited numbers on the floor.
Last weekend’s double-header road trip to Tasmania saw a one-point loss to Hobart, followed up by a 10-point loss to North West Tasmania, with the Pioneers within four points late in that contest.
The biggest issue has been healthy playing numbers, but the likes of Chol Luk, Dellon Brown and Josh Murphy have helped add to the depleted roster.
With the addition of McDaniel and Hunter and the possible return of Daly, it should go a long way towards strengthening the side.
On their home court the Pioneers should be able to get the job done, but it is certainly not a given and is shaping up to be an entertaining contest.
The game tips off at 7.30pm at the Icehouse.
