The match is a double header with the Hornets women taking on the Coasters first at 6pm and then the men's match following at 8pm.

READ MORE:

The top four sides at the end of the regular season qualify for the semi-finals in a system where first hosts fourth and second hosts third.

The Hornets currently sit in third-place on the ladder, but if they can defeat the second-placed Coasters on Saturday night they could finish as high as second.

That would secure the side a home final on Saturday February five, an advantage that is not lost on Hornets coach Scott Benbow.

"If we can finish second, there's a home final and that's a really big advantage for us," Benbow said.

"Our crowds are always good and the boys thrive on that energy."

The Hornets have found their groove at the back end of the season and have won three of the last four games.

Two of those wins were major scalps in Colac and Warrnambool, who each now sit first and fourth respectively.

Their last loss came against Portland on January nine, by 13 points, however Benbow said his side is in a much better position ahead of the rematch.

"The game against Portland, even though we lost it, at three quarter time we were level with them but we just ran out of legs from the Colac game the night before," he said.

"We've got our COVID players back, we were missing a lot of guys due to isolation and stuff.

"So we should have very close to a full squad. the only one that is a bit uncertain at the minute is Sam Breuer because of his football commitments in South Australia.

"We trained flat out last night and the guys were flying.

"They were shooting well, they were at each other, they were just super competitive and you could feel the vibes really starting to lift."

In that last encounter between the two sides, Portland's Nathan Hardingham scored 30 points and was crucial to the Coasters getting the win.

According to Benbow in that match the Hornets "didn't have the size to go with him".

MORE NEWS:

"So (on Saturday) we're just going to have to deny that inside ball a little bit," he said.

"They're very well drilled and have a great coach.

"I think we'll just have to beat them with pace up the floor. I think we're fitter too."

Saturday night will also feature a special moment Hornets legend Tim Wade is presented with his 200^th game plaque after becoming the third Hornet to reach the milestone in the Hornets round five match against Portland.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: