If you are a Waikato Pistons fan, the trip down to Invercargill to see the Otago Nuggets get pushed around by the likes of Pero Cameron and Ben Hill is bound to be rewarding.
But only the most fanatical supporter and deluded optimist would make the same journey expecting the Nuggets to break their four-match losing streak.
The Nuggets have been referred to as "the struggling franchise" so often that some people are wondering if "struggling" is the major naming sponsor.
Unfortunately, the term has become as comfortable as an old shoe.
Since 2005 the Nuggets have won just nine of their 67 National Basketball League games - a winning percentage of 13.4%.
The franchise has stacked up the defeats over the past decade, claiming the wooden spoon on five occasions.
Last season, it plunged to a new low, finishing at the bottom of the table for the third consecutive season, and it is at short odds to extend that dubious record by another year unless it can stage a dramatic reversal in form.
But eventually, jokes about the "Biggest Loser" and "The Weakest Link" stop attracting smug laughter - it is just no fun kicking the Nuggets when they are sprawled on the canvas.
The challenge is to find an answer or, as American coach Don Sims said, accept there is no immediate answer and just do their best and look to rebuild again next year.
"Up to this point we've played well under the conditions and have sort of been competitive," he said.
"But now the real test comes because we really are down in manpower.
"My goal is for them [players] to play as hard and as well as they can play, and whatever happens after that we'll accept."
The last time the two sides met, the Nuggets had their opportunities down the stretch, but blew a couple of clutch plays and came up short 93-99.
Since then the Nuggets have lost some key personnel.
Starting point guard Nat Connell has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for cannabis, along with bench player Steve Robinson, and back-up centre Jason Greig broke his leg in last weekend's loss to the Nelson Giants.
With Brent Charleton struggling to find his range from the outside and Connell gone for the season, the Nuggets will rely heavily on their two American imports, Lemar Gayle and Antoine Tisby.
The key, Sims said, was for the Nuggets to stay out of foul trouble and be within striking distance in the fourth quarter.
The Pistons are likely to target Tisby.
If the centre gets into foul trouble the Nuggets really do not have anyone to replace him.
Waikato has plenty of strike-power, with Tall Black Pero Cameron clogging up the paint and drilling three-pointers, and two of the best imports in the league in Brian Wethers and Jason Crowe.
Cameron and Prem Krishna have more than 500 NBL games between them, and Hill, Puke Lenden and Mike Homik have each played more than 100 matches.
The Nuggets' most-capped player is Jamie Blake with 85.
Darryl Jones is the next most experienced Nugget, with about 60 games.
Tom Allan, Pete Burgess.
Mitch McRae, Josh O'Connell, James Ross and Tom Rowe are all rookies.
Nuggets: Jamie Blake, Darryl Jones, Shaun Tilby, Brent Charleton, Lemar Gayle, Antoine Tisby, Josh O'Connell, Tom Allan, James Ross, Tom Rowe, Mitch McRae, Pete Burgess.
Pistons: Jamie Barnett, Ray Cameron, Pero Cameron, Jason Crowe, Ben Hill, Mike Homik, Prem Krishna, Puke Lenden, Muka Silver, Brian Wethers.
Head to head
2008: Pistons 99-93, Te Awamutu
2007: Pistons 89-80, Dunedin; Pistons 91-89, Te Awamutu
2006: Nuggets 85-69, Dunedin: Pistons 94-89, Te Awamutu,
