THE Lakeside Lightning women played off in last year's grand final but are yet to taste victory in 2015 and now face the unenviable task of battling the unbeaten Mandurah Magic and Rockingham Flames in Week 5 SBL action.

The Lightning have had a tough start the season that began badly on the opening weekend with a first up loss to the Cougars and then the Slammers the next night during which import Christian Shelter went down injured after an impressive double-double beginning.

They now have the big ask of trying to avoid going 0-6 up against two unbeaten teams this weekend as part of the round of women's SBL action.

The Week 5 women's SBL action begins with two matches on Friday night that sees the Mandurah Magic take on the Lakeside Lightning at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and the Stirling Senators face the Perry Lakes Hawks at Warwick Leisure Centre. Both matches tip off at 6.30pm.

There are then three matches on Saturday night starting at 6pm with the South West Slammers taking on the Joondalup Wolves at Eaton Recreation Centre and the East Perth Eagles battling the Willetton Tigers at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

Then finally on Saturday night at 6.30pm, the Kalamunda Eastern Suns host the Cockburn Cougars at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

The round concludes on Sunday afternoon with the Lakeside Lightning taking on the Rockingham Flames at Lakeside Recreation Centre at 2pm with a rematch of last year's women's SBL grand final.

Starting on Friday night, the big weekend for the Lightning begins as last year's grand finalists search for their first win of 2015 up against the unbeaten Magic in Mandurah.

Lakeside has lost its opening four games of the season to the Cougars, Slammers, Redbacks and Tigers by an average margin of 24.5 points.

However, the Lightning still possesses some talent led by Ashleigh Grant, Courtney Byrnes, Amanda Pether, Tia Ucich and Alecia Knowles, and that elusive first win of the season might not be too far away.

The job of that happening this weekend, though, is a daunting one up against two unbeaten teams in the form of the Magic and Flames.

Mandurah has opened its season in style with Casey Mihovilovich leading the way in wins over the Eastern Suns, Senators, Hawks, Redbacks and Slammers leading into Friday's clash at home with the Lightning.

And the Flames have started the season impressively as well coming off beating the Lightning in the 2014 women's SBL grand final to make history by winning the franchise's first championship.

Rockingham has beaten East Perth, Perth, Cockburn and Perry Lakes so far this season leading into the Sunday fixture at home against Lakeside.

Friday's other women's fixture pits the Senators up against the Hawks with Stirling coming into the contest with just the one win from the first five matches of the season.

The Senators did open with a win over the Redbacks, but they have since gone down to the Cougars, Magic, Slammers and Wolves. However, they have added motivation to perform with Tegan Walker celebrating her 350th SBL appearance on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Hawks opened the season with two wins over the Eagles and Cougars before now having lost their last two to the unbeaten duo of the Magic and Flames.

Then on Saturday night, the Slammers host the Wolves in what should be a fascinating contest between two teams trying to show what they are capable of this season.

South West won its first four games of the season before losing to the Magic last Thursday night while Joondalup lost its opening match of the campaign to Willetton but has since won impressively over Kalamunda by 43 points and Stirling by 30.

Saturday night also features a battle of a team yet to lose and one yet to win in 2015 with the Tigers heading to Morley to face the Eagles.

Willetton has won its opening four games of the season in impressive fashion while East Perth has lost its first six. Despite the more encouraging and competitive showings under Narelle Henry as coach, the Eagles are still yet to win in their last 22 women's SBL matches dating back to last year.

Finally on Saturday night, another winless team in the Eastern Suns host the Cougars who have won three of their six matches so far this season.

The two teams played out a cracking quarter-final series last year with both teams looming as genuine championship contenders with Kalamunda ending up prevailing in three games before then losing to the eventual champion Flames in the semi finals.

Both the Cougars and Suns have lost plenty of key players coming into the 2015 and are still trying to find their groove. However, with the leadership of playing-coach Deanna Smith, the Cougars will be confident of recording a fourth win of the season and keeping Kalamunda winless.

WEEK 5 WOMEN'S SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Mandurah Magic v Lakeside Lightning, Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre 6.30pm
Stirling Senators v Perry Lakes Hawks, Warwick Leisure Centre 6.30pm

SATURDAY
South West Slammers v Joondalup Wolves, Eaton Recreation Centre 6pm
East Perth Eagles v Willetton Tigers, Morley Sport and Recreation Centre 6pm
Kalamunda Eastern Suns v Cockburn Cougars, Ray Owen Sports Centre 6.30pm

SUNDAY
Lakeside Lightning v Rockingham Flames, Lakeside Recreation Centre 2pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by Mick Cronin