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HOW many games can Perth win with the Wildcats' dual-MVP superstar Bryce Cotton sidelined by injury? Well, if you count beating Adelaide as having any significance, the Wildcats are off to a flyer.

But if, like many of us, you're more interested to see how Perth fares under real pressure from a genuine contender not a mercenary-stacked pretender, Sydney is one of the teams which legitimately can pose the question.

It was stiff to lose in Perth last time, as coach Adam Forde was at pains to explain.

The former Wildcats' assistant can expect a typical Jungle reception but once that's weathered, can the Kings pull off the road win they so desperately need?

This result should tell us something about the quality of both clubs.

And while South East Melbourne in this round will consolidate its first finals appearance, Illawarra too can take a giant leap to a playoffs return, contingent on its performances in this penultimate round of the regular season.

    ROUND 20

LET'S not be in any doubt. The NBL's most disappointing team, Brisbane, still has to start as favourite to beat the Taipans in Cairns, the Orange simply running out of manpower to win most games. But Taipans fans take heart - Brisbane doesn't have a heart so all it would take is for your team to stick around for longer than a half and and upset, if you could even call it that, would be on the cards. The only card to summarise the Bullets is a Joker but they do boast a couple of aces up the sleeve and therefore get the nod.

IT'S not a case of "no Bryce, no dice" for Perth but let's face it, you cannot take the best player in the league out of your lineup and expect it to continue functioning as efficiently. Sydney has every reason to be fired up but the crowd at The Jungle will be too, recalling the comments of Kings coach Adam Forde from their previous meeting here. Kings fans should get on their team to win this but they cannot start favourite against the Wildcats in Perth, especially if Will Magnay remembers he's allowed to score as well.

THIS is a serious danger game for Illawarra's playoff aspirations as New Zealand has been relishing being at home in a variety of locations in front of rabid Breakers fans. The Hawks went 3-point bomb crazy against Cairns but didn't pay for their jack-the-shot indiscretions. Any repeat against NZ and they most assuredly will be punished. The Breakers' spread of scoring options far outweighs what Illawarra has to offer so the Hawks will pin their hopes on their defence standing firm. Against Finn Delany and Co, only discipline will stand up.

REGARDLESS where Melbourne's COVID outbreak forces this fixture to be played, make no mistake South East Melbourne will not take any prisoners against Cairns. With a bona fide opportunity to consolidate their historic first ever finals appearance, the Phoenix will be led from the front by Keifer Sykes and Mitch Creek, and while Yanni Wetzell and Ben Moore may have issues containing the powerful Nate Jawai, they have the advantage in any other matchups with the Taipans' bigs. That spells W, any way you look at it.

WILL Sydney be buoyant or battered after their battle with Perth because, obviously, that result would inform how good the Kings would feel about their chances against league-leading Melbourne. But realistically, no matter how good the Kings feel about themselves - or otherwise - the fact is United is finding its groove. Chris Goulding has been shooting out the lights, Jock Landale, Mason Peatling, Jo Lual-Acuil and 3-point specialist David Barlow have been owning the keyways and their defensive guards are firing at both ends.

THE only other team in the ballpark for disappointing and untrustworthy alongside Brisbane is Adelaide, where Conner Henry's erratic coaching and unfathomable substitution patterns have dragged many of his players through a psychological season of despair. That's not exactly the recipe for success against Illawarra in Wollongong, unless the Hawks again decide jacking up threes is more fun than running a play. Then, the 36ers would stay alive. Interesting to see if Isaac White canes his home club once again.

BULLETS fans still clinging to the hope their team can show something of the fighting spirit necessary to be a competitor should back their outsiders in this. After all, it is the last trip to New Zealand for Andrej Lemanis, the man who changed that franchise and turned it into a winner and, who knows, maybe a few of his players might channel the energy of retired champion Mika Vukona. But it's rather more likely the Breakers will, in a game which has the potential as the best of the round. That is, of course, depending which Bullets show up.

DO we really need to go into any great detail of why top team Melbourne starts favourite against last-placed Cairns, regardless of venue or location? Majok Deng's return to the Taipans lineup and Venky Jois' recruitment have helped, as has the development of Tad Dufelmeier. But we're talking about the Orange landing a 40-minute blow on United. We can see 10 minutes, maybe even a half. Let's give them three quarters of competitiveness, at best. But at some point Melbourne will hit the accelerator and Cairns will be left gasping.

Safest Bet of the Round: Venky Jois will miss a free throw or two.