DANDENONG, Australia (Interstat) — Southside will open its women’s professional basketball season Friday when it hosts Syd. Flames at Dandenong. The matchup features two teams still searching for their first result of the new campaign, with both Southside and Syd. Flames entering at 0-0.

Southside will have the advantage of playing at home as it looks to establish early momentum. Syd. Flames will make the trip seeking a strong start on the road. The game is part of the opening slate and offers both clubs a chance to set a tone before a busy run of fixtures.

Syd. Flames’ most recent result was a road loss to Perth, when it fell 108-93. That result closed out a previous stretch and gave the club areas to address before returning to competition. Southside’s most recent result was an 84-74 road loss to Townsville. Southside will aim to correct those issues in front of its home crowd.

Southside and Syd. Flames are familiar with each other’s scheduling challenges, and their early-season meeting could carry weight as the standings begin to take shape. Both teams have games ahead against Adelaide, and both are set to meet again later in the season. Southside also has upcoming matchups with Tasmania Jewels, Geelong and Perth. Syd. Flames will also face Canberra, Townsville, Tasmania Jewels and Bendigo during the next portion of its schedule.

The home team will look to control tempo and use its crowd. The visiting side will need to manage turnovers and convert opportunities in transition. With both records at 0-0, the game represents a fresh start for each roster. A win would provide confidence before the next set of games, while a loss would leave room for adjustments.

Southside’s home floor at Dandenong will host the contest. The teams will meet again later in the season, when Syd. Flames hosts Southside for consecutive games. Those rematches add context to the first encounter, though neither side can look past the Friday opener. The game is expected to draw attention as part of the women’s professional schedule.

Southside will follow the game with a stretch that includes Tasmania Jewels, Geelong, Adelaide, Syd. Flames, Perth and Geelong. Syd. Flames will move on to games against Adelaide, Canberra, Townsville, Tasmania Jewels, Southside, Bendigo and Adelaide. The early scheduling provides both teams with chances to build rhythm and evaluate rotations. Both clubs will use the opening stretch to sort rotations and establish defensive identity.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Southside 81, Syd. Flames 76. The over/under for the game is 158.5.