Almost 200 Wollongong fans won't mind being heavily outnumbered when they gatecrash Perth's Challenge Stadium to cheer on the Hawks in tonight's NBL grand final showdown.
A 38-degree scorcher greeted dozens of staunch Hawks supporters when they touched down at Perth airport yesterday, with a larger contingent due to arrive today.
Wollongong tied the best-of-three championship series at 1-1 with Tuesday night's game two victory at WIN Entertainment Centre and are seeking the club's second title in its 32-season existence.
Pick up Friday's Mercury for your 8-page Game Day liftout Live sites for Hawks grand final decider "To have 200 people come across is great. It's not cheap to fly over here and it's awesome to have that real show of support," Hawks captain Mat Campbell said an hour before his side trained in Perth yesterday.
"We know it's going to be a hostile environment, but it'll be good to hear some cheering for us and see a solid contingent of Hawks fans in the stands.
Watch the WEC erupt in celebration after Hawks victory "The other thing is that we know that the whole of the Illawarra will be watching back at home and I'm sure we'll draw on that support and spirit even though we're on the other side of the country."
There is little or no grand final vibe around the streets of Perth.
There are no banners or posters in shop windows, no cabbies talking basketball and no red and black streamers.
Aside from a couple of television reports and the odd newspaper story, coverage of the Wildcats in the Perth media has been scant.
PIC GALLERY: All the action from WIN Entertainment Centre AUDIO: Our reporter in Perth rates the Hawks' chancesThat is not surprising given the fact most of the city's sports fans are preoccupied with the imminent start of the AFL season.
None of that will matter to about 4300 Wildcats supporters, who will stand as one behind Western Australia's only NBL team tonight.
"Their fans are going to be right in the game like they always are, and probably more so than usual because of the fact it's a grand final, and how we deal with that environment will obviously be a key factor in the game," Wollongong's 16th-year forward Glen Saville said. "Having a couple of hundred of our fans coming over to support us will give us a lift, and we can go in there with nothing to lose and see whatever comes up.
"This is it, the last game of the season. There'll be a few nerves and that's normal, but I think we'll be fairly loose.
"The reality of sporting teams is that things happen in the off-season and you don't know if we'll all be back here next year. This is probably our last game together and we should just go out and enjoy it and play our style of game.
"We get to play for the ultimate prize and we can just get out there and let it all go.
"It's very similar to 2001 when we won the title. We're going into a grand final decider in enemy territory and the fact we did it in 2001 means it's possible to do it again. What we did that year actually gives me inspiration that we can definitely do it again.
"We've certainly got the team to do it, so there's no reason why we can't get it done and bring another championship to Wollongong."
The Hawks will have a light shooting session this morning before resting up for tonight.
They are due to return home tomorrow afternoon.
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