The Castec Rural Pioneers are set for another big weekend as they head across the border for back-to-back NBL1 South conference games.


The Pioneers will take on the Ringwood Hawks on Saturday night in the first leg of their double header, followed by the Frankston Blues on Sunday afternoon.


Ringwood has not had the best start to the season with a win-loss record of 2-4, currently, sitting on a three game losing streak.


However, the Hawks do have several impressive players in their squad who will cause problems for the Pioneers including Jonathan Lawton who leads the team in scoring with 20 PPG.


Another tough match-up for the Pioneers will be Angus Glover who moved from Eltham to Ringwood this season.


Glover is one of the best players in the NBL1 South and is coming off a solid NBL season with SE Phoenix, averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds in his two games for the Hawks this season.


Frankston has had a slightly better start to the season than Ringwood with three wins and two losses to sit seventh on the ladder.


The Blues have struggled to get a develop any real consistency to start the year as they are yet to string back to back wins.


Frankson’s top player this season has been Michael Harris who is very familiar with the Pioneers given he spent a season in Mount Gambier in 2022.


Harris is averaging 22 points, 7.4 rebounds and just under three threes a game.


Pioneers head coach Richard Hill is expecting to see the best of Ringwood despite the Hawks’ poor record to start the season.


“They have not been playing very well but they have got a high level team,” he said.


“They have got Tanner Krebs, Angus Glover and a high level point guard import.


“So I’m expecting to see the best of them, which will be very tough.”


Despite missing a few players, Hill believes the contest against Frankston will be another tough match.


“Frankston have been one of the better teams in the comp over the past few years,” he said.


“But this year they do not appear to be as strong.


“It’s going to be interesting playing Michael Harris and it will be good to catch up with him.”


Overall Hill believes this weekend will be a tough challenge for his side.


“It’s a really tough road double,” he said.


“I expect both those teams to make the playoffs.


“I would expect Ringwood to be one of the better teams in the competition


“At the moment they’re not looking like that but there’s no doubt they will be.


“They would have the best one, two and three in the competition so that’s going to be pretty tough.”