With leaders Solent taking the week off, that leaves that chasing pack with the opportunity to close to gap on the unbeaten Kestrels.
Like Solent, Thames Valley Cavaliers and BA London Lions are both still unbeaten, they'll both hope to stay that way come Saturday night.
Elsewhere Bradford Dragons are the final D1M side to get their season underway as they travel to Newcastle.
We've got a preview of all five of this weekend's games below, plus the one L Lynch Trophy game that takes place this Sunday between Nottingham and Charnwood. Full links to live stats and live streams are available at the bottom of this page.
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Newcastle's bright start to the season took a bit of a dent last week with that heavy defeat to Solent Kestrels - can they bounce back to the form that put them 2-0 in the opening rounds?
Ronald Blain has certainly played his part off the bench for the newly promoted Knights, already featuring in a Rebound Team of the Week selection thanks to his 24-point, 13-rebound performance against Leicester and will be pushing for a start in week 7.
Bradford still have eyes on a quarter-final place in the L Lynch Trophy, but will be fully focused on starting their NBL season with a win.
They just came up short last time out against Derby Trailblazers and will open the season with their long-standing core trio of Sulcs, Fetske, Laing in their ranks.
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Derby's unbeaten L Lynch Trophy form has filtered through into their NBL campaign which has seen wins against Worthing and Reading but does include a loss on the road in Newcastle.
This local derby makes for an exciting weekend clash, with Hoods looking to get one up on the hosts having fallen to defeat in both games last season.
Hoods have had two narrow results going into this won, with a 76-72 w vs Oaklands followed by a 77-74 loss to Loughborough last weekend.
Victor Olarerin has started the season well for Hoods and will be hoping to build on his 20-point haul in week 6.
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Reading Rockets (1-2) will have home advantage but in an away fixture when they come up against Worthing Thunder (0-2).
Oshowen Williams registered 34 points in last week's defeat at Derby - Thunder will need to keep him quiet if they are to get their first NBL W on the board.
Last season's league runners-up Thames Valley Cavaliers (1-0) welcome Oaklands Wolves (0-2)have so far struggled in D1M. It will be a big ask to get something out of this encounter with Cavs stars like Hakeem Sylla in fine form. The forward claimed 23 points and 17 rebounds to down Leicester in week 5.
Finally, there is a second Midlands derby this weekend as Loughborough Riders (1-2)make the short trip to take on Leicester Warriors (0-2).
They have already faced off in the L Lynch Trophy, with Riders edging a close contest 83-80 with the help of a Kyle Jimenez triple-double.
Hoods' defeat to Loughborough decided the top of group 3, but Hoods and Charnwood can still bag a quarter-final place as runners up and will face Thames Valley Cavaliers in the last-eight.
Charnwood are enjoying the step up in level, with Louie Jordan (18pts, 4rbs) and Simeon Perry (16pts, 5rbs) showing in week 5 they can cut the mustard at this level. Hoods will need to be wary.
2pm - Derby Trailblazers v Nottingham Hoods - LIVE STATS
3pm - Leicester Warriors v Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS
4pm - Team Newcastle University v Bradford Dragons - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM
6:pm - Worthing Thunder v Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM
6:30pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers v Oaklands Wolves - LIVE STATS/LIVE STREAM
2pm - L Lynch Trophy - Nottingham Hoods v Charnwood Riders - LIVE STATS
Main image credit - Alex Daniel Photography
