And this is no more obvious than in the determination of playing coach Kym Cassells.

Cassells cannot place enough importance on the need for the Ballarat Community Health Lady Miners to defeat Knox Raiders in the second semi-final at the Minerdome tonight and have a home court advantage in the grand

final in two weeks.

"Having the home court is critical," Cassells said.

"We learnt the hard way last year how important it is to have the crowd on your side."

The Lady Miners played Frankston in the SEABL grand final at Frankston and lost to the Lady Blues by three points.

"We want the crowd on our side (in the grand final) this year," Cassells said.

The semi-final carries a double chance, with the loser having to play the winner of the first semi-final encounter between Nunawading and Frankston.

But Ballarat and Knox are only interested in one thing - victory and a home grand final.

Although the Lady Miners finished on top, their form in the closing weeks of the regular season was anything but convincing.

Knox had plenty to do with this.

Knox defeated Ballarat twice in successive weeks to open up the premiership race and curiously the Raiders have won on four of their past five visits to the Minerdome.

The battle between Ballarat's Desiree Glaubitz and Karen Ashby and the Knox combination of Katrina Hibbert and Hollie Grima is likely to determine which way this game goes.

Cassells said the Lady Miners' main focus would naturally be on Hibbert and Grima, each members of the Australian Opals squad.

She said Glaubitz and Ashby were just the players to do the job.

Cassells said the Lady Miners would also be watchful of Jackie Buckthought.

Although Cassells is confident Ballarat can do the job defensively, she is also well aware that Knox is a high-scoring combination and her players will need to be prepared to take on the Raiders offensively.