The showdown between LaMelo Ball and Didi Louzada will likely make it a sellout, but it might be Sunday Dech who holds the key to the Hawks beating NBL leaders Sydney.
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With Aaron Brooks out for the season with an Achilles injury, coach Matt Flinn needed someone to step up in the hardened defensive role.
And not only did Dech deliver in the 101-91 victory over Cairns on Saturday night, he also finished 21 points of his own.
It took Illawarra to 2-7, but they face their biggest challenge yet in a Kings outfit sitting at 8-1.
"AB going down was horrific and he was a leader on the court," Dech said after the Cairns win.
"That really hurt us last game, but we've been buying in the last couple of weeks at practice and it's showed on the floor with our unity.
"It starts from top to bottom and it starts with coach Flinn holding us accountable and us stepping up in ABs absence.
"I was able to get some opportunities (on Saturday) and I was able to grasp it, they don't come along very often."
The 25-year-old started on the bench, but finished with 26 minutes of court time against the Taipans..
Dech is expected to be handed the task of shutting down Casper Ware, recruited by the Kings from Melbourne United. Ware averages 20.22 points to be ranked sixth overall in the NBL so far.
Daniel Grida will likely face off against Louzada.
But in terms of NBA draft prospects, it will be the most searching test of Ball's No.1 NBA draft hopes on Sunday against Sydney's Brazilian sensation Didi Louzada.
Louzada led the Kings' march to an 8-1 record with 28 points, including seven threes, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 104-85 win over Perth.
He was a second round NBA pick at No.35 for New Orleans overall this year, who then sent him out to play in Australia as part of the Next Stats program.
It's all led to a tantalising showdown with Ball at Qudos Bank Arena, which is expected to be a sell-out.
Ball sparked the Hawks' season in Cairns on Saturday, a 37-point second quarter blitz setting the platform for a 101-91 win.
The 18-year-old finished with 24 points, six rebounds and eight assists in his best performance since arriving in Australia.
But it was Hampton, who was ejected in New Zealand's 103-78 loss to South East Melbourne on Saturday, who had the edge when they faced off last month, as the Breakers won 103-72.
When asked if would be the No.1 NBA draft pick on ESPN before the Cairns game, Ball replied "I believe so".
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