FAMILIAR FACES: Kieran Gleeson will face the Waratah League outfit from his old NBL stomping ground Wollongong.
The Maitland Mustangs will look to bounce back immediately from last weekend’s overtime loss and knock off defending premiers the Illawarra Hawks for the second time this season.
The Mustangs host the Hawks at Maitland Federation Centre in round seven of the Waratah Championship League after disposing of their south coast rivals 73-70 at Illawarra on April 21.
The crucial encounter comes a week after the Mustangs went down 84-75 to local rivals the Newcastle Hunters.
It was a tense tussle which ended regular time with scores locked at 70 apiece, but the visitors managed to finish the stronger.
The Hunters now have one hand on the Kibble-Mallon Cup but the Mustangs have the chance to retain the silverware with victory in the return match.
The Mustangs have held the trophy since its inception in 2009.
Saturday’s tip off, for the clash between the Mustangs and the Hawks, is 7pm.
In other round seven fixtures this weekend, the Hawks back up against the Central Coast Crusaders on Sunday while on Saturday night the Newcastle Hunters host the Bankstown Bruins, the Hills Hornets meet the Penrith Panthers, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles will tough it out against the Parramatta Wildcats, the Crusaders clash with the Sydney Comets and the Norths Bears battle the Sutherland Sharks.