Battle lines will be drawn this week as the CellularOne Premier Basketball League kicks into high gear with the first round of the play-offs scheduled to begin on Thursday night at the Bermuda College Gym.

Defending champions St. George's International will enter the post season as the number one seeds after finishing on top of the charts at the end of the regular season. They were tied with Smith's with a 9-3 record but had the better head-to-head record.

However, the Wild Cats will be favourites with the International line-up depleted by injuries to key members of the squad, although the champions won't go down without a fight.

Only one place behind these two sides were the Pembroke Cane Toads and Hamilton Tsunamis, who both finished with an 8-4 record.

With 10 teams participating in the league, only eight entered the play-offs with Southampton Titans and Warwick Rim Rockers missing out.

The two dark horses will be the Pembroke Cane Toads and Hamilton Tsunamis who have shown they can beat any team in the league, especially if they can field their full roster.

The remaining teams making up the play-offs are Hamilton Parish Chargers and Devonshire Dragons.

Play-off schedule

Thursday, May 21

6.50 pm: (4) Hamilton Tsunamis v (5) Devonshire Dragons

8.00 pm: (3) Pembroke Cane Toads v (6) Hamilton Parish Chargers

Saturday, May 23

6.50 pm: (2) Smith's Wild Cats v (7) Paget Bear Cats

8.00 pm: (1) St. George's Int'l v (8) Somerset Flyers