Finalists Reading and Hemel are out of action with their focus on a different prize, but four league games still go ahead tomorrow.
There could be some big results at the foot of the standings as Worthing and Bradford both look for wins, whilst Derby can make it a three-way tie at the top if they can beat local rivals Nottingham.
There's also a full preview of Sunday's NBL Final HERE, to get you in the mood for the big game.
We take a look at all tomorrow's action below, with links to live stats at the bottom of the page.
Fourth hosts fifth tomorrow as Essex travel to Loughborough in a much-anticipated contest.
Both harbouring playoff aspirations, though perhaps just off the pace for a title challenge, Saturday evening's winner will take another step towards a top-four seeding in the fast-approaching post-season.
Loughborough will have to wait and see what impact their shock loss to basement side Bradford last weekend will have on their season, but as the only team to take a defeat off the Dragons so far, it's no doubt a result the Riders would love to have back regardless.
In a similar vein, Essex would probably enjoy a do-over on their 1-3 start to the campaign, having gone 6-2 since to spark an ascent up the standings.
The Rebels can keep that rise going as well. They're slated to face just one top-six team between now and the first week of March. Loughborough face a similar opportunity, with London Cavaliers, Worthing and a return date with Bradford all on the immediate horizon.
That means tomorrow's clash represents a chance for momentum as well as two valuable points, so expect both sides to be going full tilt in this one.
For the hosts, Victor Ndoukou is currently fifth on the D1M scoring charts with 18.8PPG, whilst Justin Hedley (16.8PPG, 3.8APG) and Michael Joiner (16.8PPG) are also in form.
Essex will counter with sharp-shooter Connor Nelson (15.1PPG), who sits seventh in D1M for 3pt percentage, and Emmanuel Kanwei (14.5PPG, 8.8RPG) and Luke Busumbru (14.5PPG) both offer plenty of production.
With two of the league's top three defences on show tomorrow, Essex (76.4PPG allowed, first) and Loughborough (77.2PPG allowed, third) could cancel each other out in that regard. There's still plenty to look forward to in this one, though perhaps keep hopes for an offensive outburst in check.
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Three other games make up tomorrow's quota, starting in West Yorkshire for the no longer winless Bradford Dragons (1-10) as they host Bristol Hurricanes (6-6).
The Dragons are going to need more positive results in the coming weeks if they're to undo the damage done by the 2024 section of their schedule, and that won't be easy this weekend against a Bristol side they lost to 78-66 in the final game before December's mid-season break.
Another struggler, Worthing Thunder (2-10) also has home advantage to help them pick up a much-needed positive result. The South Coast side entertain Milton Keynes Breakers (6-6), who split their double-header weekend last time out and to remain locked in D1M's tightly contested mid-pack.
Finally, Nottingham Hoods (2-10) will be hoping that the added spice of a local clash with rivals Derby Trailblazers (9-3) will give them the boost needed to correct their skid of eight games without a win.
Derby can move onto 20 points and join Reading and Hemel in top spot with a win however, adding plenty of incentive for the Trailblazers.
6pm - Loughborough Riders vs Essex Rebels - LIVE STATS / TICKETS / LIVE STREAM
6:15pm - Bradford Dragons vs Bristol Hurricanes- LIVE STATS / TICKETS
7:30pm Worthing Thunder vs Milton Keynes Breakers- LIVE STATS / TICKETS
7:30pm - Derby Trailblazers vs Nottingham Hoods - LIVE STATS / TICKETS
4pm - Hemel Storm vs Reading Rockets - LIVE STATS / TICKETS / LIVE STREAM / PREVIEW
Live stream details will be added as they become available
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Main image credit - Callm3pa
