THE Ballarat Rush will be at full strength when they head into their South East Australian Basketball League fixture with Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.
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Fresh from a week off courtesy of the bye, the Rush will regain star recruit and co-captain Kerryn Harrington for the clash, who is yet to play a home-and-away match for the Rush after succumbing to a hand injury in a practice match leading into the season proper.
Co-captain Kristy Rinaldi said Harrington’s experience had been missed in the opening rounds of the season.
“Obviously she’s a great player but with her leadership skills, you can’t buy that stuff.”
The Rush are coming off a confidence boosting two match winning streak which included a strong win at home against the Sandringham Lady Sabres a fortnight ago. In that match former WNBL play Joy Burke proved the difference between the sides, scoring 34 points and amassing 18 rebounds.
Kasey Burton will also feature in the Rush’s 10 player squad after falling heavily in the third quarter of the contest against the Lady Sabres. While Burton’s knee was heavily iced following the fall, she was back training the following week.
Rinaldi said the side which will take to the court on Sunday is the strongest the Rush have put forward all season.
“It was disappointing to have last week off because we were starting to really come together,” Rinaldi said. “It was always going to take a few weeks to come together but I certainly felt the Sabres game was the turning point.”
Meanwhile in the men’s competition the Ballarat Miners will be out to snap a two game losing streak when they take on an in form Brisbane side who have won three of their past five matches, including a 10 point triumph over Nunawading last week.
Brisbane will be coming off a quick turnaround when they land at the Minerdome after being scheduled to play Sandringham on Saturday night.
Miners coach Eric Hayes said his side was looking forward to rectifying its performances in recent weeks.
“The guys really worked hard this week and we’ve made a few changes and I feel a bit better about where we're at,” Hayes said. “They’re starting to gel and work for each other.”
Hayes said he expected Brisbane to play a fast-paced, aggressive style of basketball led by playing coach CJ Bruton. “They play 10 guys who all get good game time, so on any night any one of them could have a big game.”
Action kicks off at the Minerdome from 12pm on Sunday when the Rush take on Brisbane, followed by the Miners at 2pm.
