ILLAWARRA fans won’t have long to wait for a grudge match with reigning league MVP Kevin Lisch with the Hawks set to host arch-rivals Sydney at the WIN Entertainment Centre on round two of the newly released NBL draw.
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The October 13 clash will see the Kings, under new coach Andrew Gaze, travel to Wollongong for the traditional derby that will see Lisch play for the first time against Hawks coach Rob Beveridge under whom he's picked up two NBL MVP gongs.
The Hawks will again host it’s marquee New Year’s Eve clash with Perth, who bundled them out of last year’s play-offs, as part of a double-header that will also feature a Queensland derby between Cairns and Brisbane to ring-in 2017.
Kirk Penney, now at home club New Zealand, won’t return to Wollongong until round seven on November 20.
The draw, released on Thursday includes more games Friday to Sunday with the addition of 10 ‘Monday Night Live' games in the previously unused time slot.
In total, 17 of the 19 rounds will also feature a Thursday night game in a move away from the five-day-a-week schedule from last season.
NBL executive director Larry Kestelman said the changes were aimed at making game attendance more accessible for fans while every game will again be televised live on Fox Sports.
“We know that it is not easy for people to get to mid week games after work or for families with young children,” Kestelman said.
“We have listened to the feedback and want to not only provide greater access to those wishing to attend but also ensure fans can watch the games on TV.
“We are delighted to have Fox Sports as our broadcast partner.
“We’ve made no secret of our vision to become the number one sports entertainment product in Australia and we believe the changes this season will take us another step forward towards that goal.”
The Hawks will open their season on in Wollongong against a Jerome Randle-led Adelaide on October 7.