EXCITING Cairns Taipans talent Nathan Jawai takes on the Melbourne Tigers' Chris Anstey in Melbourne tomorrow night in an NBL showdown of a potential NBA centre against the man who has been there, done that, and still keeps doing it.

With 21-year-old Jawai on the radar of US basketball scouts after a storming debut season in the NBL, his match-up with Anstey will be a fascinating insight into how much he has developed and whether he can match it with the league's benchmark centre and a past NBA player. It will be just the second time the pair have clashed.

The 32-year-old Tigers star comfortably outpointed Jawai in October - Anstey posting 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-82 Tigers win.

But since then, the Taipans' giant has become the revelation of Australian basketball, averaging 17 points and nine rebounds in the NBL and lighting up the recent All-Star Game after playing just 16 matches. Jawai is also firming to make the Boomers' Olympic Games team next year, and is unbackable favourite to win the NBL's rookie-of-the-year award.

Anstey used his NBL most improved player award in 1996 as a springboard to joining the NBA the next year, where he played more than 100 games with the Dallas Mavericks and Chicago Bulls. Anstey believes Jawai is definitely NBA material, with the ability to follow Australian greats such as Andrew Gaze, Luc Longley, Mark Bradtke and Shane Heal, and current star Andrew Bogut by playing in the world's best basketball league.

"If he continues to grow the way he's growing, he's an NBA player. Simple as that," Anstey said. "He's got a skill set that's unique to this league and the size and athleticism to compete over there. I hope he continues his growth and I'd love to see him over there."

Statistically, Anstey is still ahead of Jawai at the moment. Anstey is averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds this season to be among the leading contenders for the league's most valuable player award. Anstey played alongside Jawai in the recent NBL All-Star Game, and they have also seen each other at close quarters in a Boomers camp last year. The veteran believes it will be only a matter of time until Jawai is plucked from the NBL for the NBA, but says Jawai should time his move to suit himself.

"The scouts will figure that out [when he should be drafted] and they've already got their eye on him," Anstey said. "I just hope he goes when he's ready to go."

The Tigers (12-5) desperately need to beat the Taipans to stay in touch with the top two after slipping to third when beaten and leapfrogged by the Brisbane Bullets last weekend. Import Dave Thomas is in line for his first match since he dislocated his kneecap in October.

■ Townsville Crocodiles head coach Trevor Gleeson has requested a formal hearing to fight three charges stemming from his ejection from the match against Wollongong on Saturday night.

Gleeson charged on to the court to challenge match officials midway through the third quarter before being ordered to the rooms. The hearing will be held on Saturday in Brisbane.

AAP