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DUAL-Perth NBL champion and Melbourne United title-winning import Casey Prather will be keen to change Brisbane's fortunes this season when he arrives late in Round 12 as the replacement for injured DJ Mitchell. The Bullets forward has an injured hip and will be out for the rest of the season.

Prather, a versatile 198cm forward, is due to arrive on Wednesday when the Bullets host New Zealand, the Breakers themselves buoyed this round with the return of injured duo Zylan Cheatham and Will McDowell-White.

How quickly and smoothly coach Mody Maor can settle his two studs back into the rotation could determine how the Breakers fare against Sydney in the grand final match-up that launches this round.

Cairns also will be looking squarely at South East Melbourne and a chance for the Orange to get a rythm going agfter enduring an injury-influenced topsy-turvy ride so far.

Abdel Nader showed great promise in his Phoenix debut but without Mitch Creek, South East's season is under the pump. Two losses this round - and neither Cairns nor Tasmania were sure things even with Creek playing - would put the season in jeopardy.

Tasmania will have its work cut out on the road at Illawarra, a team growing in confidence, before the JackJumpers host the Phoenix.

Illawarra will back up against Sydney in arguably the league's longest rivalry, and Cairns-Perth games have become favourites since ex-Wildcats assistant Adam Forde took the reins at the Taipans.

Adelaide at home has a real chance to reward its long-suffering fan base, catching Brisbane at a time when the Bullets also are struggling to string together consistent performances.

Breakers-Brisbane? What a potentially terrific match to close the round. They've fought out some beauties over the years but right now, their seasons hang in the balance. This falls into "must-win" territory.

ROUND 12 TIPS
New Zealand returns to full strength but full fluency? Must beat Kings. Yes.
Cairns will have this rightly pencilled in as a win, as no Creek = no Phoenix.
Close to "match of the round", Tasmania should just get over Illawarra.
It’s time for Melbourne to make amends for its injury-plagued loss to Perth.
At home and finding its new identity, Adelaide can master Brisbane.
Tasmania must rout SEM on Christmas Day. No other result is acceptable.
The NSW derby goes up a notch but Sydney should escape Hawks’ clutches.
Is Cairns legit? Beating Perth would certainly be a statement of significance.
Brisbane hosts the Breakers at full power and with a game under the belt. NZ 

NBL RANKINGS – WEEK 11
This          Last
Week       Week   Club
  1               1        Melbourne (13-3) Playing great but have a point to make against Perth.
  2               4        Perth (9-6) Chugging along nicely but this road round has 0-2 potential.
  3               5        Sydney (9-6) Stalled the rot but need a 2-0 return to satisfy non-believers.
  4               2        Tasmania (9-7) Twin losses last round can lead to twin wins this time out.
  5               6        Cairns (7-9) Lucky to flee Brisbane, the Taipans are on their way, possibly.
  6               7        Illawarra (5-8) Easybeats no more but still will need some luck this round.
  7               9        New Zealand (5-9) Finding new rotations may take time but they’re back.
  8               8        Brisbane (7-9) Too little, too late. Even a split this round would not excite.
  9               3        South East (8-8) Yeah it’s a big drop but they were rubbish last round.
10              10       Adelaide (4-11) Have a genuine chance to give Coach Ninnis Win #1.