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CAN our Team of the Week, Bendigo, make a run at the WNBL playoffs? At 6-8 the Spirit have two games in hand on Sydney (8-8) and if pundits rate the Flames a top-four chance, then why not Bendigo? Southside and Perth are two teams in the hunt so this round is huge for Kennedy Kereama's crew.

Beating teams ahead of it - last round Bendigo whacked Adelaide and Canberra by 50, but they're teams below it - is now the true test of the Spirits' post-season bona fides.

Are they deep enough to trouble Southside, especially now Lauren Jackson has regained her shooting touch, Mercedes Russell remains a premier centre of the league and Leilani Mitchell is offering veteran leadership.

Maddi Rocci, Bec Cole and Nyadiew Puoch are unrelenting and Southside needs this for its own top-two aspirations.

It backs up against Melbourne, the Boomers revelling in crushing Townsville but reeling from the loss of Penina Davidson.

She has been crucial in the Boomers' two wins over the Flyers and against Southside's bigs Jackson, Russell and Carley Ernst, her absence is likely to be pronounced.

Bendigo then heads to Perth where anything can happen and where former Spirit forward and league MVP Anneli Maley will be anxious to make a point.

If the Flames, in Sydney, cannot blaze past Adelaide and Canberra, then the post-season will be a waste of time for them anyway.

ROUND 12 TIPS
Southside at 8-6 needs this as much as Bendigo on 6-8. Flyers have the weapons.
Sydney can ill-afford to make another misstep against a team such as Adelaide.
Similarly, the Flames cannot afford a setback with Canberra either. Must wins.
Townsville will be smarting after its heavy loss and Adelaide to pay the price.
It doesn't get bigger for Perth than this one with Bendigo. Tipping a Spirit upset.
Losing Penina Davidson will rock Melbourne, opening the door for Southside.
 

WNBL RANKINGS – WEEK 11
This          Last
Week       Week   Club
  1               1        Townsville (12-4) Post Boomers-bungle, ready to strike Lightning.
  2               3        Melbourne (10-6) Can make it a Flyers sweep but will miss Penina.
  3               7        Southside (8-6) A 2-0 round would be a huge Flyers muscle flex.
  4               6        Sydney (8-8) Erratic but should go 2-0 over lowest rung opponents.
  5               2        Perth (9-7) Can restart finals campaign by ending Bendigo's late bid.
  6               8        Bendigo (6-8) Beat bottom two but now the real challenge begins.
  7               4        Canberra (4-10) Very capable of beating any team on any occasion.
  8               5        Adelaide (4-12) Record likely to take a double road welt this week.