Starting 5: Rematches, rivalries and two looming debuts

This seven-game slate features one heavyweight Ignite Cup clash, two must-see rivalries and the Championship Series rematch we've all been waiting for.

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All the action tips off on Wednesday night with Adelaide hosting Melbourne in an Ignite Cup fixture from 7.30pm AEDT.

Courtney Ward takes a look at some of the key storylines ahead of Round 4.

>> Ignite Cup, NBL27: Schedule, tickets, rules & more

The full schedule

Adelaide 36ers v Melbourne United - Wednesday, October 7, 7.30pm AEDT - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Cairns Taipans v Brisbane Bullets - Thursday, October 8, 7.30pm AEDT - Cairns Convention Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Illawarra Hawks v Tasmania JackJumpers - Friday, October 9, 7.30pm AEDT - WIN Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United - Saturday, October 10, 7.30pm AEST - John Cain Arena
Watch: ESPN, 9, 9Go! and 9Now | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers - Saturday, October 10, 9.30pm AEST - RAC Arena
Watch: ESPN, 9, 9Go! and 9Now | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Sydney Kings v Adelaide 36ers - Sunday, October 11, 3pm AEDT - Afterpay Arena
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Illawarra Hawks v Cairns Taipans - Sunday, October 11, 5pm AEDT - WIN Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN | Scores and stats: Game Centre

Talking points

1 – A must-see Championship Series rematch

Ever since the final buzzer sounded on April 5 and crowned the Kings as the NBL26 champions, all hoops fans have been waiting for the rematch between Sydney and Adelaide.

While the two Championship Series rivals head into the fixture in different form, the one thing that matters most is Bryce Cotton v Kendric Davis.

This duo have been the League's top-two players since Davis arrived ahead of NBL25 and have become must-see TV whenever they take the court against one another.

Expect an exciting next chapter in the rivalry, especially with six-time MVP Bryce Cotton wanting to exact revenge for last season's gut-wrenching Game 5 defeat.

2 – Battle lines drawn

Round 4 features not one but two of the League's most intense rivalries, starting with the all-Queensland showdown on Thursday night.

Cairns hosts Brisbane in the 68th clash between the two outfits, with the Taipans leading the series 36-31 all-time.

Both teams will be desperate to win the first of their four meetings this season, with Cairns looking to build on its best win of the campaign over Melbourne and Brisbane out to end a two-game skid.

The other fierce rivalry will take place at John Cain Arena, and that can only mean one thing: a Throwdown.

This marks the 34th time the two Melbourne sides will have locked horns, with United easily accounting for the Phoenix in Round 2.

But with both outfits currently in the bottom half of the ladder, a win is imperative to kickstart their respective campaigns.

3 – Looming debuts

Two of this season's most anticipated NBL debuts could happen in the space of a few days.

Fresh off announcing his commitment to Duke University, exciting NBL Next Star Luke Paul is set to make his debut on Thursday when his Taipans host the Bullets.

The 17-year-old point guard is one of the country's top prospects, and fans have been waiting patiently to see him in action.

Then two days later, Brandon Knight is in the mix to make his long-awaited Wildcats debut.

Knight has been battling food poisoning since arriving but completed his first team session this week, with signs pointing to him taking the court against MVP contender Parker Jackson-Cartwright and New Zealand on Saturday.

4 – Gritty JackJumpers

Despite one of the biggest injury tolls in the League, Tasmania keeps chalking up wins, including two gutsy ones in Round 3.

Taran Armstrong is fuelling everything the JackJumpers are doing on offence, while Will Magnay is dominating on the defensive end, highlighted by his League-leading 2.8 blocks per game.

Awaiting the marching Ants in Round 4 are the under-pressure Hawks, who have proven to be a different animal on their home court in NBL27.

Sitting in equal second, Scott Roth's side would love a third straight win on Friday.

5 – Another milestone for Aussie Tyler

In the history of the Illawarra Hawks, the League's lone foundation club, only 10 players have chalked up 200 games for the Wollongong-based team.

On Sunday, that number will become 11 when Tyler Harvey plays his 200th game against Cairns at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

Harvey is one of the Hawks' hall-time greats, currently sitting third all-time in triples (548), fourth in points (3,421) and seventh in assists (590), while also co-captaining the Hawks to their second-ever championship.

As such, Sunday will be another celebration for the newly minted Australian citizen, who will likely be the sixth player to have his jersey retired and raised to the roof when he calls time on his career.