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Sep 5, 2009 - 4:25 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (15-16) at Detroit (15-15), 6:00 p.m. EDT

With two meetings in the final eight days of the regular season, the defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock and Chicago Sky both have the chance to play their way into the postseason.

The Shock and Sky look to take a major step towards the playoffs Sunday night when they meet at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit (15-15) has won six of seven to reach .500 for the first time since it was 1-1. The Shock have moved up to third place in the Eastern Conference, and are within striking distance of second-place Atlanta in the race for home-court advantage in the first round.

The Shock have won two straight over the top two teams in the league, beating Phoenix 101-99 on Tuesday and Indiana 70-63 in overtime on Friday.

"This is very, very, very, very big," guard Deanna Nolan said after the win over the Fever. "We're back at .500 and we've still got a chance to finish second or third in the East. These are all huge games now."

Chicago (15-16), meanwhile, is seeking to reach the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's four-year history. The Sky moved into a tie with Washington for the fourth and final playoff spot with a 92-86 win over the Mystics on Friday.

"Defense won it for us," Sky center Sylvia Fowles said. "I'm happy that we stuck in there and duked it out."

Fowles returned after missing five games because of an ankle injury. She had 13 points and four rebounds but committed five fouls in 16 minutes off the bench.

While Chicago was happy to welcome Fowles back, Detroit is uncertain when Katie Smith will return. Smith, the Shock's second-leading scorer at 13.7 points per game, sat out her third straight game Friday with a back injury.

Detroit overcame Smith's absence Friday as Nolan scored 22 points and rookie Shavonte Zellous added 16. The Shock limited the Fever to 27.2 percent shooting.

"I think that this is great for us in a way," Nolan said. "Everyone has spent the season thinking we are down and out, but we're still alive."

The Shock are 10-3 all-time against the Sky, including two wins this year. These teams close the regular season Saturday in Chicago.

Sky All-Star forward Candice Dupree is averaging 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games against the Shock this year. Smith is averaging 15.5 points versus the Sky to lead Detroit, which has limited Chicago to 34.4 percent shooting in the two victories.