The teams had a different look but the result remained the same as Mid City Magic claimed its third win over the St Kilda Saints on Saturday.
A strong second half allowed Magic past its top-of-the-table rival 72-65 to remain unbeaten and claim its 14th consecutive win.
Both sides were understrength due to key players being at the under-23 national championships, but the Magic - missing its entire starting line-up from last week - was able to adapt better.
Adam van Heezik led the way with 26 points in his return from injury.
That included 13 in a big third quarter, his aggression and ability to get to the hoop proving key for the Magic.
It was a decisive period.
The Magic fought its way back from trailing 32-25 at halftime to tie things at 48-48 at the final break.
It continued to look to get to the hoop and pulled in front early in the fourth, as Blair McKenzie (eight points) and Brent Cheshire (14 points) added two baskets each.
That aggression, alongside scrappy offensive rebounding from the likes of Hamish Fitchett, proved key as it began to click without the majority of its usual outside shooting threats.
It was never comfortable, though.
The Saints kept things close as point guard James Ross managed 11 fourth-quarter points, his ability to score off the dribble making him tough to stop. He hit a big three-pointer late to close the gap to 69-65, after the Magic had extended its lead to seven.
The Magic iced the game late, though, Matt Dukes hitting a pair of free throws to seal it.
Ross finished with 29 points, while Matt Gillan and James Nicol chipped in with 10 each.
Gillan threatened to heat up in the second quarter after hitting two three-pointers, but was well-contained from there on in.
The Saints were most dangerous in that second quarter.
The Magic had led 12-10 after a shaky first quarter for both teams, before the Saints came out looking more polished through the second.
The teams will meet again in the major semifinal in two weeks, although both will have several key players back.
In the other games, the Mid City Magic Lions rallied late to beat the Andy Bay Falcons 75-65, while the City Rise Bombers were made to work to extend their winning streak to four, beating Varsity 74-69.
