KEY POINTS:
The chips have been falling the Breakers' way before tonight's trip to NBL title favourites Sydney Kings.
The Breakers head into tonight's match sitting sixth on the ladder and needing to at least preserve that position over their final two matches to earn a home quarterfinal.
Their cause has been helped by the form of both teams below them on the ladder - with Gold Coast and Cairns both dropping matches - and a victory tonight would all but secure a home playoff.
It would also see the Breakers go fourth, leapfrogging Townsville and Perth with a match remaining.
The Kings, however, represent far and away the toughest assignment in the league.
The Kings, the only team the Breakers have not beaten this season, have been in regal form, winning 25 of 28 games.
The Breakers have beaten the Kings in Sydney just once in six attempts, although they did take them to overtime when the teams last met in December.
"I couldn't ask for better opposition" Breakers coach Andrej Lemanis said.
"It will force us to play at an intensity that will be great preparation for the playoffs."
The Breakers have won their last four matches and victory over Sydney would see them equal the franchise's best streak of five, in 2003-04.
"All year this team has continued to raise the bar and set new standards. We've achieved a lot of firsts," Lemanis said.
The Breakers' focus had not changed since they confirmed their presence in the post-season.
"Right now we're trying to win anyway. We'd like to finish fourth because that will stand us in good stead for the post-season," Lemanis said.
"If you'd asked at the start of the season I would've said that making the playoffs was enough. Not now.
"There is a level of energy and excitement that keeps building. All the hard work, the pre-season grind, the long hours training, fitness work ... everything is coming to a head with tangible rewards still on the line."
Power forward Derrick Alston, who joined Orien Greene as a replacement import mid-season, said the Breakers were clicking at the right time.
Breakers squad: Paul Henare, Orien Greene, Paora Winitana, Phill Jones, Kirk Penney, Oscar Forman, Mika Vukona, Tony Ronaldson, Derrick Alston and Tim Behrendorff.
