The Castec Rural Pioneers will return home tomorrow night as they host the Dandenong Rangers at Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre in round nine of the NBL1 South conference.


Heading into the game the Pioneers sit second on the NBL1 South ladder with a 9-3 record, while the Rangers sit last on the ladder with a tough 2-9 stat.


The Pioneers have been able to build together a solid winning streak over the past few weeks having won their last four matches.


Dandenong on the other hand have won just one game in their last five appearances.


Mount Gambier should be feeling confident after last weekend’s double header which featured two large victories.


Two players that will most likely cause problems for the Pioneers tomorrow night will be Bryton Hobbs and Ruot Monyyong.


Hobbs is currently leading the side in points per game with 21.50 while Monyyong is averaging 15.63 points and 8.25 rebounds.


Despite the Rangers’ poor record they have still been a competitive side, with wins over Ringwood and Keilor, so the Pioneers will certainly have their hands full tomorrow night.


Pioneers head coach Richard Hill believes it will be a tough contest for his side.


“With the positions on the ladder we are thought to win comfortably but they beat Ringwood two weeks ago and Ringwood beat us by 30, they were leading Knox by 10 at three quarter time a week ago and Knox has only lost one game,” he said.


“So their best is pretty good and they have got a pretty good team so I expect a much tougher game than what the ladder positions would suggest.


“I would expect them to be pretty tough.


“If we function the way we functioned on the weekend then we will be in pretty good shape.”


Hill believes there will be a few tough match ups against Dandenong.


“Our guards have been playing extremely well and are up against two high level guards in Bryton Hobbs, Ryan Rapp and Jack Roberts on the wing so their perimeter fire power is pretty good,” he said.


“Mason Peatling is going to cause some headaches being 6’8 and without Titus (Robinson) we are small at the four spot, with Joe (Palmer) playing the four so that could give us some problems on the inside with him.”


Hill believes Akech Aliir should have a winnable match up, especially given the form he’s been in as he was named the player of the week.


“Their import centre is a 6’11 dude, he’s averaging about 16 a game at a high percentage,” he said.


“Akech has been playing great so I expect him to win that match up, but it’s not going to be easy.”