Three teams enter this weekend's action with 12-18 records, and all three can enhance their playoff position with a two-game road sweep.
A weekend split would probably give each of them much-needed confidence, but two more losses could prove to be a serious blow to their playoff chances.
The Rizing Fukuoka travel to face the Osaka Evessa (21-9), the three-time defending bj-league champions, who have found themselves in the unfamiliar position of second or third place in the Western Conference for much of the season.