The final eight teams for the 2007 SEABL finals series will not be determined until the completion of the final round of the regular season. The only thing currently assured though, is that the Geelong Supercats and the Bendigo Braves have secured top spot in their respective conferences.

The top four teams in the East have now been finalised, with only seeding left to be decided, while in the South the make-up of the post-season will depend on results in Round 21.

Results in the final round in both conferences will determine where teams eventually finish on the ladder - these results will determine who secures the second chance and who hosts the all-important first knockout semi-final.

Remarkably, the final round of games sees all but one fixture having an effect on the final standings in each conference. Only the Australian Institute versus Albury/Wodonga clash has no relevance on the final positions for the post season.

In the East Conference, the Canberra Gunners head to the Apple Isle to try to secure second spot and the double chance. The Gunners this year have not had the greatest record on the road, losing seven out of 11 games, and need to win both games to avoid a potential three-way tie with Frankston and Southern Districts if all three teams finish with 17 wins.

If such a scenario unfolds, placings will be decided on a head to head basis, with their points differential taken into account. If all three teams finish equal, Southern Districts will finish second, Frankston third and Canberra would slip to fourth. So as you can see, the road double is make or break for the Gunners.

Frankston have a home game against the travelling Mt Gambier and the Spartans have a road double against the Spectres and Ballarat respectively.

The final placings may not be known until 5pm Sunday, which makes for a very dramatic finish to what has been a highly competitive season in the very strong East Conference.

Things are a little different in the South Conference, with five teams vying for four spots on the final weekend of the season. Positions two to six are still undecided with the Tasmanian double holding the key to both conferences.

Although the Apple Isle road double is crucial for Canberra, it is just as important for the home sides Hobart and North West Tasmania. If Hobart wins on Friday night at Aurora Stadium they have sewn up second spot but if they falter, the Thunder can pounce with a victory in Devonport on Saturday night and steal the all-important second spot due to having the head to head over the Chargers.

It gets interesting in the South, with Mt Gambier currently sitting sixth and able to catapult into fourth position if Kilsyth stumble on the road at Albury/Wodonga. It might not be an easy task taking the win as it will be league legend Allen McCowan’s last game and emotions will surely be running high. The Pioneers themselves must win both their road games this weekend to even be a chance. This won’t be an easy feat as they come up against Knox on Saturday night and a Frankston side on Sunday trying to secure their best possible seeding in the East.

If the results fall that Knox and Kilsyth finish equal on wins, Kilsyth will go through on head to head and if Mt Gambier finish equal with the Cobras, they will go through courtesy of a 2-0 regular season result.

Also making things interesting will be if Kilsyth wins on the road and North West Tasmania fails to take the points on Saturday night, the Cobras can steal third spot and the crucial home court advantage for the first semi-final due to having the head to head over the Thunder.

All in all it makes for an intriguing conclusion to a great season of basketball in the men’s conferences where results have been hard to tip the entire season.