The team remain the Waratah League cellar dwellers, but Hays said they were odds-on favourites to deliver their first win this weekend against the Hornsby Spiders.

Hays could be forgiven for thinking the Mustangs men’s first win is just around the corner after an agonising final quarter saw the game slip away against the Central Coast last week.

The Mustangs men have produced competitive performances over the last three fixtures, including games against Sutherland and Hills when they went down by seven points, but are yet to be rewarded in full.

“We are playing well, playing really well, we just can’t get that win,” Hays said.

Mustangs standouts Andrew Mortimore (centre) and Jonathon Lawler (guard) showed last week they could compete with quality opposition.

Lawler posted 32 points in a game that could have gone to the Mustangs, had some dubious refereeing and a final quarter slump not got in their way.

The Mustangs will host the Spiders in front of a Maitland Federation Centre crowd, an advantage not to be underplayed according to Hays.

“They had a live band there the other week, which they will keep doing. I really hope we can get a win and please our home crowd,” he said.

The Mustangs will put the same full-strength starting side on the court that played last week.

The Spiders will come into the game with flailing confidence after seizing just one victory from their last five encounters.

The Mustangs men will tip-off at 7pm on Saturday evening following the Mustangs women’s match, which starts at 5pm.