Leicester Riders take on league leaders and BBL Cup winners Newcastle Eagles on Friday night (7.30) in the first meeting of the season in what has become the biggest rivalry in British basketball over the last few years.
The pair have combined to win 10 of the last 13 trophies in the BBL and, when they meet, the consequences have almost always had an impact on the destination of silverware.
With third-placed Riders six points behind the Eagles, albeit with two games in hand, the outcome tonight in the north-east will certainly have an effect on the title race.
"When you look back at the games we've played over recent years, most have been really exciting games and they've been very meaningful games," said Riders coach Rob Paternostro.
"Fans who have been to those games will say they've been entertaining to watch."
Newcastle posted one of the best win streaks in BBL history with 19 consecutive victories before suffering a second defeat of the
campaign a month ago, but have since won four in a row, including the Cup final.
"They've had a great start to the season," said Paternostro. "When you watch them play you see they are intelligent with veteran smart players who know when they have to make plays.
"To beat them, especially at their place, you have to be intelligent and play a quality game."
The Eagles added a couple of new faces this season in Andre Jones and Rahmon Fletcher, as well as bringing Andrew Thomson to Tyneside after a spell in France.
It has allowed them to bring experienced trio Fab Flournoy, Charles Smith and Drew Lasker off the bench, which has enhanced their depth and given them one of the most decorated set of back-ups in the history of the league.
Paternostro said: "Bringing Thomson back was very important for them, and Fletcher and Jones have had very good seasons.
"The veterans they already had combined with the newcomers. You can see why they are where they are in the table."
While they meet for the first time this season tonight, they will not have to wait long for the next head-to-head, with the pair doing battle again a week on Saturday in Loughborough.
Riders: Williams, Bernardini, Watson, McSwiggan, Maynard, Noel, Gamble, Washington, Lamble, Anderson, Hassan, Losonsky, Rowe, Wright.
Eagles: Jones, S Thomson, Matthews, Smith, A Thomson, Defoe, Martin, Flournoy, Lasker, Fletcher.
