KEY POINTS:
Auckland Stars begin a crucial three-game road trip tonight with the toughest assignment in the NBL, a visit to a Wellington Saints team undefeated on their home court this campaign.
The Saints (12-4), in first place and with an 8-0 record in the capital, will be looking to pull within a game of claiming the regular season title against the inconsistent Aucklanders.
The Stars (8-6) have won their past two, against Manawatu and Taranaki, but are still far from sure of a playoff spot. On paper at least they will struggle to match it with a Saints team boosted by the naturalisation of Nick Horvath and the mid-season recruitment of former Stars favourite Lindsay Tait.
Last-place Otago Nuggets (2-14), whom the Stars face in Dunedin on Saturday, will be a more realistic target for the points the Stars need if they are to hold off Taranaki (7-8) in the battle for sixth, or even threaten Nelson and Hawkes Bay above them.
The match against the Nuggets appears to be the last banker for the Stars, who finish the regular season with a trip to Hawkes Bay on Monday before a home clash against second-place Waikato Pistons next Thursday.
Harbour Heat (10-6) are also in action tonight, looking to preserve their tenuous grip on third with a win against the out-of-sorts Pistons (12-4).
The Pistons will be hoping to keep the pressure on the Saints, who have an identical win-loss record but have the upper hand thanks to a three-point differential after the season series between the teams tied at a win each.
Nelson and Hawkes Bay also play tonight and both are favoured to win, against Taranaki and Canterbury.
