by Trevor Howlett, Fort McMurray TODAY

While last weekend was fun for Keyano basketball, this weekend the Huskies are playing for keeps. The men's huskies are coming off a win against King's and a loss to Lakeland

at last weekend's home pre-season tournament. This weekend the Huskies will battle it out against the Concordia Thunder at the CNRL Gymnasium — a matchup that was evenly split in pre-season action.

"We both won one game, so both teams are evenly matched and have different facets," said Huskies coach Mike Connolly.

"I think one thing that we've got to do a better job on is defending, that's what we're focusing on. We've got to take away their uncontested shots and really shoot the ball, and we're just going to have not turn the ball over and do the little extra things to be successful."

Connolly said his team will follow the same strategy as usual and make sure to focus on doing the basics correctly.

The Huskies will again be dealing with a shortened bench this weekend, but Connolly said injuries aren't excuses.

"We don't know if we will have the services of Zach (Alger-Waldher) yet. We're just waiting to hear what the word is on him and then Jesse Denscombe is out with a hand injury that occurred in the tournament against Lakeland so it's one of those things that we just need to take care of it now and not push it any further."

Despite the injuries, Connolly said his first year players will be given the opportunity to show they can play. The Huskies meet the Thunder at 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday

at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre.

The women's Huskies will also be in action this weekend against the Thunder coming off two sizeable wins against the lower tiered Kings College.

Coach Dwayne Vigilance said the competition this week is going to be a lot harder.

"Concordia is always a playoff team, very athletic very tough team," said Vigilance.

"We played them a few weeks ago and lost by 11 … they're very aggressive offensively, attacking the boards, so what we have to do is do a really good job of boxing them out and containing them."

Vigilance said besides Steffanie Jenkins, who had surgery on her finger three weeks ago, most of the team are in relatively good health.

Vigilance even expects Jenkins to play, although in a reduced role.

"She's still about 60 to 70% so she'll dress but not play that much," said Vigilance. "No matter what the game has to go on."

Vigilance said the two wins against Kings were valuable for his team who only recorded a couple of wins all of last season.

He hopes his team will continue their strong performance — particularly their good effort and intensity — when they meet the Thunder this

weekend. The women's huskies will play Concordia at 6 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.