‘This series features a number of interesting contrasts: McKee vs. Hatcher again; a team which gorged itself at the free agency table vs. one that went with homebrews and a couple of smaller-named additions; a bullet offence vs. a tank defence; a team that never misses the playoffs vs. one that’s there for the first time in five years; and, of course, a reprise of Hitch vs. Ruff.’