After the entire country takes in Blue Jays fever Thursday afternoon, Canada’s other team—the Toronto Raptors— has a preseason contest in Ontario, Cali. Versus the Los Angeles Lakers that should give an indication of just how close the basketball squad is to playoff success. Here are three things to look out for ahead of tonight’s game…

The battle for the last starting position:

Barring something unforeseen, four of the five starting positions are locked up for the Raptors. Now that Amir Johnson is a Boston Celtic, the power forward position is still up for grabs. Patterson, the favourite for the gig, has started both preseason games for the Raptors thus far. But don’t count out Luis Scola, who has been impressive thus far. Both players played 15 minutes in the Raptors last game versus Golden State, yet so far Scola has been a +15 to Patterson’s +11.

Early in the preseason, Scola has been used to help give the Raptors second unit of Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, Bruno Caboclo, and Bismack Biyombo some needed scoring punch. The usage of both men will give further insight as to who will start for the Raptors in late October.

Kobe Bryant, and what position he plays:

Bryant has played the bulk of his career minutes at shooting guard, with bigger guards like Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest, and Rick Fox playing small forward alongside him. However, coming off yet another season ending injury Kobe is now being asked to play the three in an effort to make room for the Lakers talented duo of 1st team all-rookie from last year Jordan Clarkson and the Lakers 2015 first round Draft pick D’Angelo Russell—not to mention off-season acquisition Lou Williams. In 2013, only 9.3 percent of Kobe’s possessions were in spot-up situations and last year his usage rate was 34.9-usage rate so the new position will be an adjustment.

So far Kobe has been saying all the right things. “I don’t have to handle the ball really at all,” Bryant told reporters. “Gives me more time to catch and shoot.” However, on the defensive end Kobe will be asked to bang with bigger bodies and help out on the boards down low. It will be interesting to see how his 37-year-old body reacts to his new role— and how long it lasts.

Fight for a roster spot:

For the first time in a long time there is real debate as to who will fill out the end of the Raptors roster. The Raptors have to make 12 players active for opening day and ten spots are already locked up assuming everybody is healthy. Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, DeMarre Carroll, Patterson, Jonas Valanciunas, Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, James Johnson, Bismack Biyombo, and Scola are all a lock to be in the line up every night. That gives Toronto a starter and reserve at every position, leaving at least 5 players—draft picks Norman Powell and Delon Wright, Canadian Anthony Bennett, and the recently extended Bruno Caboclo and Bebe Nogueira—all fighting for two spots.

All five could see time on the taxi squad the organization plans to fluidly move to Raptors 905 in the development league for home games and then back up to the big team when advantageous. Picking up where he left off in Las Vegas where he made the All-NBA Summer League first team, Powell has by far been the best of the bunch, shooting 47% from the field and playing stout defence. How the California native fares back in his home state could help cement his place on the roster.