As a former National Basketball League player Kieran Gleeson has played in plenty of big games before.
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But the Wollongong Hawks will seem a world away when the 29-year-old and his new Maitland Mustangs teammates line up against the Newcastle Hunters on Saturday night.
The Kibble-Mallon Cup will be up for grabs at Maitland Federation Centre and the Mustangs will be keen to retain the silverware they claimed on inception in 2009.
“From what I’ve heard this is a pretty big rivalry,” Gleeson said.
“Growing up as a junior in Wollongong there has always been rivalry with Newcastle through the steel city thing.
“But I didn’t realise this [Maitland-Newcastle] battle was as big as what it was.
“It should make for a really good game.”
Other than the trophy and bragging rights, the Mustangs and the Hunters both find themselves inside the top four of the Waratah Championship League ladder.
That makes this weekend’s showdown even more important with valuable competition points on offer early in the season.
“They started the season as the competition favourites and they probably still are,” Gleeson, who joined the Mustangs this season after moving to the Rutherford area with work commitments.
“But we have had a good start so far and a win here would really set us up for the rest of the season.”
The Mustangs should be at full strength with the likes of regular starters Matt Dick, Josh Clifford, King Cannon and Mitch Rueter available.
Tip off is 7pm.
In other sixth round Waratah Championship League matches on Saturday, Bankstown battle it out with Sutherland, Parramatta host Central Coast, the Penrith Panthers have the Norths Bears in the other top four showdown, Sydney Comets clash with the Hills Hornets while Illawarra tackle Manly Warringah.
