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TOWNSVILLE Fire stud Tianna Hawkins looked a million dollars last week, lighting up Adelaide to the tune of 33 points and 10 boards. But in Round 3 of the WNBL, she runs up against a visiting Southside frontcourt which may rank as one of the deepest of all time.

Lauren Jackson is the G.O.A.T. of Australian basketball, WNBA starter Kayla Thornton is off to a, well, flyer, Sara Blicavs was starting for the Opals at the World Cup. And then Southside can turn to a league MVP in Abby Bishop, championship winner Carly Ernst or up-and-coming young talent Nyadiew Puoch.

The options are vast and it will be engaging to see what strategies Fire coach Shannon Seebohm employs to offset the Flyers' bigs as both clubs try to retain their unbeaten starts.

Elsewhere Sydney's rough draw again does it no favours, on the road to Perth and Adelaide, while Canberra has another tough trip into Melbourne.

ROUND 3 - DOES HOMECOURT MATTER?

YOU know there will be a game or two this season which Southside will drop but it is unlikely to be at Townsville this round. The Flyers love it up north - it's where they won their last championship during the COVID times - and as Cheryl Chambers settles her rotations, they have the size and depth to do some damage on the road. Both sides come in undefeated but Southside's wins (over Adelaide and Melbourne) are slightly more impressive than Townsville's (Canberra and Adelaide).

FEELING good about themselves after slamming Canberra, the Lynx at home again will find Sydney a much tougher proposition. The Flames petered out against the Spirit in Bendigo but will be much better for the experience. They lost to Bendigo by 20, Perth lost to the same club by 19 suggesting a close contest here. It's where homecourt advantage should actually be of some advantage.

CATCHING Adelaide on the back end of a "Doomsday Double" to Perth first, does Sydney no favours. The Lightning have looked very good despite a 0-3 record, alive in losses to Southside, Townsville and Melbourne. The question is will Steph Talbot (thigh) play? The World Cup All Star 5 selection is the key player in Lightning breaking its drought. Without her ...?

DOWN major players from its main rotation, Canberra already has taken some lumps and that doesn't appear likely to change any against the defending champion Melbourne in Melbourne. The Boomers also are down a couple of mainstays but spreading the minutes is paying off with the Boomers' youngsters stepping up.