Although it’s clichéd, it is fitting that the top two teams of the 2008 Central ABL women’s competition will have the opportunity to battle for the premiership.

In the minor rounds, Forestville and Southern helped to create a tight top four, but finals form has demonstrated that the Sabres and Rockets are just that small step ahead of the rest.

Sturt’s victory margins in their three matchups this season increased each time. The first and closest was in round 9, when a 10 point Sabres victory produced a four-way tie at the season’s mid point. In round 18, Sturt won by 15 points. Most disturbingly for the Rockets, the margin in the semi final blew out to 27.

Both teams have a stack of experience. Tania Dhu has morphed from a WNBL player to a WNBL assistant coach, but can still be devastating in important CABL games. Jo Hill has been able to play a lesser role than in previous years, but to have her international experience in a game such as this is priceless.

Monique Bowley’s ruthless determination in 2008 marked a return to the Adelaide Lightning squad and convinced CABL coaches to vote her the Defensive Player of the Year. Her best games this year were not against North, but she is no stranger to performing well under the Grand Final spotlight.

Camino seems to have hit her straps at just the right time for the Sabres. With 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists against North in round 18, and a double double in the semi final, the Rockets are yet to find a way to shut down the WNBL Grand Final MVP.

There will be few scouting secrets in this game and Sturt will rightly enter its third game in succession against North with the confidence of a title favourite. Such familiarity can only help the Rockets, however, who now have a third attempt at producing a more radical game plan to reverse the results of the last month.