A win over Townsville tonight is essential in the Breakers' quest for home advantage throughout the playoffs, considering the calibre of opposition to come.
With the Breakers and Cairns (both 18-6) locked together atop the ANBL standings, the clash against the Crocs (8-16) gives an opportunity to create an edge.
Townsville are second-bottom of the table and have lost three times to the Breakers this season, giving the appearance of easy prey.
Cairns, meanwhile, face a challenging trip to a Perth side fighting in the final weeks to secure their spot in the post-season.
The Breakers' booked their own place with last Thursday's win over Perth but that victory engendered no feelings of positivity for star player Mika Vukona.
He and his teammates have their eyes on a grander goal, one for which they face a serious scrap.
To attain top spot and, with it, a potentially vital advantage in a pair of three-game playoff series, the Breakers will need at least a couple of wins from their final four games.
And their opposition after tonight's trip to Townsville are the three sides surrounding them in the standings - the in-form Adelaide (home), old rivals Perth (away) and, on the last day of the season, a showdown with Cairns (home).
Run-ins hardly come any tougher but there are also advantages to having such a demanding schedule in the final weeks of the regular season.
"It's great mini-preparation, especially when you've got those away-home, away-home fixtures," Vukona said.
"It all builds up and it holds us pretty well going into the playoffs."
Earning their berth in the playoffs gave the Breakers no sense of accomplishment, Vukona said, despite it bringing to an end their brief absence from the finals following last year's dire campaign.
"It didn't feel any different to get that playoff berth - no one really reacted much," the power forward said. "We want that first spot. I think we'll give that sigh of relief briefly if we can get that first spot because that's the most important thing right now.
"Obviously you get that home-court advantage and you're looking to try to get a small advantage all the way through."
One disadvantage the Breakers are facing is the limitation of the injured Alex Pledger, who missed last week's game and is doubtful for tonight.
But, as they showed in Perth, the big bodies of Vukona, Tai Wesley and Ekene Ibekwe were able to cope without their starting centre.
"We might not be big in height but, if you talk to Tai, E and me, we think we're the tallest guys out there. That's the way we've been playing all year."