First up, let it be known that while it is the silly season Paul Henare doesn't play silly buggers.
Yes, the HBS Bank Hawks are comfortably perched on the top rung of the Bartercard National Basketball League (NBL) table but that doesn't mean the coach is going to accommodate, even flirtatiously, thoughts of letting oppositions win on the road while contemplating who to play in the semifinals at the end of this month.
Frankly, it's not Henare's style. "There's no point in going down the avenue of predicting who to play."
The Hawks play the Nelson Giants at Trafalgar Centre at 7pm today before crossing Cook Strait to tip off against defending champions Wellington Saints at the same time tomorrow night in another double header.
However, Henare is mindful the Giants and the Saints have their backs against the wall as they try to make the cut for the play-offs and will be desperate to register wins.