The Bendigo Spirit is playing their first home game of the 2013/14 WNBL season tonight when the reigning league champions host the Adelaide Lightning from 7.30pm.

The unfurling of the Spirit’s 2012-13 WNBL championship banner will precede tonight’s game, but Spirit coach Bernie Harrower says the club can’t afford to dwell on past achievements.

“As much as it’s very special for us to unfurl the flag in front of our fans at home, that was last year.

“Part of my coaching philosophy all along is you’ve got to win 90 to 100 per cent of your games at home if you want to finish in the top two.”

The Spirit’s championship defence got off to a rocky start last Friday night when they were beaten by 12 points in Townsville in a grand final re-match.

The defending WNBL champions went into last weekend’s match underdone, and were disappointed both in the loss and they way they played as a team, according to captain Kristi Harrower.

“It was disappointing, what was probably more disappointing was that we were erratic and just didn’t get through stuff and that’s just not the way we play,” Harrower, who had 11 assists on the game but was restricted to 1-of-11 shooting, said.

This week, though, the Spirit gets to play in front of their home crowd at the Bendigo Stadium.

It will be the first time Spirit fans get to see recruits Tessa Lavey, Sara Blicavs, Heather Oliver and Elyse Penaluna in action on their home floor.

Adelaide is also hoping for their first win after their four-point loss to West Coast last weekend, and are still searching for the right mix amongst its group after the departure of reigning league Most Valuable Player Suzy Batkovic.

Over the journey, McKern Foundation has proudly supported the Bendigo Spirit with an excess of $8000.

GO SPIRIT!