The Cairns Rawnet Taipans have announced that they will host the Townsville Crocodiles in the annual “Reptile Rumble” pre-season match in Cairns on the September 14, at 7.40pm.

The match is the first and only chance Cairns fans will see their team in action before the start of the season, with the game to be played at the Cairns Basketball complex, Aumuller Street.

The first pre-season meeting between the two rivals in Townsville last week was an exciting clash with the Cairns Rawnet Taipans taking the match 116-110. The return match is sure to be just as thrilling, with both sides keen to round out preparations for the start of the Philips Championship season.

It will be the last pre-season match for the Taipans, with the club to field a full strength line-up for the clash according to Head Coach Alan Black.

“We have had a pretty good pre-season build up to date and have a few matches away from home in Melbourne and Brisbane before our only pre-season home game against the Crocs in a few weeks, Black said”.

“It’s a very important game for us as our first NBL game is a week later and we would like to start the season on a winning roll. Our fans wont get to see the boys at home for a couple of weeks after that, so it’s a chance to see the new guys Kevin Owens and Luke Martin in action, plus Rob Rose up against his old club. It should be a fantastic spectacle,” he added.

Taipans season members and box holders currently have the first option on purchasing tickets for the match with tickets to go on sale to the general public on Monday 28th August. Club officials are expecting the match to be sold out quickly.

Tickets can be purchased from the Taipans shop at Stockland Cairns on 07 4054 4511. Corporate boxes can be purchased by contacting Jacqui Nolan at the Cairns Rawnet Taipans administration office on 07 4030 7555.