Basketball On The Internet.

CONTRARY to reports suggesting otherwise, Adelaide Lightning captain Nicole Seekamp is under a major cloud ahead of tomorrow night's WNBL Game 1 of the semi final series against regular season champion Southside at Dandenong.

Seekamp severely sprained her ankle in the final minutes of Adelaide's last regular season home game, a gripping 75-74 win over Perth on January 30, the injury originally assessed as requiring a four-to-six week recovery.

It cost Seekamp her spot in the Australian Opals team which qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in Bourges, France last week while she underwent an intense program hoping to get her back in time for this Saturday's Game 2 at Titanium Security Arena.

Last Saturday, she was able to spend six minutes on court with her teammates scrimmaging ahead of tomorrow night's key series opener.

The Flyers go into the match with captain Jenna O'Hea (wrist surgery) sidelined but beat Lightning 81-69 at Dandenong Stadium last month in her absence.

Prior to that, the teams split two matches in Adelaide.

"I hate to sound like a cliche but we've brought Noodle (Seekamp) with us and she will definitely be a gametime decision," Lightning coach Chris Lucas said today from Melbourne.

"At best, we might be able to get a few minutes from her, and even as I say that our physio is shaking his head at me.

"She was on court for six minutes on Saturday and didn't really put too much pressure on it, and that's all the on-court she has done since the Perth game."

Seven-time WNBL champion Nat Hurst (below) has been dealing with plantar fasciitis all season, training minimally since the regular season ended for the Lightning in Canberra.

How much the champion playmaker can provide tomorrow also is unknown, Adelaide needing big games from MVP runner-up Brianna Turner, Steph Talbot, Lauren Nicholson and Kathryn Westbeld in particular.

Bec Cole (below) has proven a thorn to Adelaide and Turner's interior battle with classy Mercedes Russell also has huge ramifications.

Sara Blicavs will keep the Adelaide frontcourt on its toes and Opals playmaker Leilani Mitchell looms as another potential Southside match-winner.

"We know we're in for a battle," Lucas said. "It's a semi final against a team which lost four games all season. We have the utmost respect for them."

Tip-off is 7.30pm AEDT. The match will be live on FOXSPORTS.