That should make this weekend’s double-header against the Canterbury Wildcats and Tauranga City Coasters at the Edgar Centre an extra special occasion.
It is not quite new territory, as the Gold Rush hosted a game earlier this year and a pre-season game last year.
However, those were exceptions.
Changes to the Women’s Basketball Championship this year have meant it has moved away from the old structure of three tournament weekends.
Teams now get to play home games and head coach Todd Marshall said the Gold Rush was looking forward to doing so.
"That’s been a big bonus for the season.
"I think it gives the team a big boost getting to have a couple of games at home, get some family and friends along, so we’re looking forward to it."
It begins its weekend against a very strong defending champion Canterbury team.
Having lost just one of their nine games, the Wildcats are among the favourites for the title again.
Marshall believed defending well would be key to toppling them.
"A big part of it’s going to be how well we defend, because they’re a powerful team," he said.
"They’ve got size, they’ve got good guards, so they’re going to put pressure on everybody pretty much at all stages of the floor.
"So everyone’s going have to really do their job individually against Canterbury, because they challenge you physically, so it’s going to be a good game."
Tauranga City had won just two games, although Marshall said it was a team they needed to play well against to beat.
It shot well, was well coached and was getting better each year as its players got older.
The Gold Rush will be without Soraya Umaga-Jensen this weekend, after she picked up a calf injury on Wednesday night.
It is hoped she would be available for the finals weekend beginning on July 6.
Natalie Visger is unavailable today, but will be back for tomorrow’s game.
The team claimed two away wins against the Capital Swish and Taranaki Thunder in its most recent games to move it to six wins from eight games.
With two games left, it is in fourth place on the table and is fighting for as a high a spot as it can in the top six.
Women’s Bball Championship
Otago Gold Rush
v Canterbury Wildcats, Edgar Centre, Saturday, 5pm
v Tauranga City Coasters, Edgar Centre, Sunday, noon
Gold Rush squad: Natalie Smith (c), Danielle Frost, Janet Main, Grace Love, Aleisha Ruske, Bronwyn Kjestrup, Natalie Visger*, Nicole Ruske, Olivia O’Neill, Zoe Richards, Brittany Richards, Georgia Te Au.
*Sunday only.
