With six of their next seven games away from home - including tomorrow night's crucial clash with the Crocs in Townsville - Wollongong sit at a pivotal 6-6.

Campbell believes the Hawks need to lift their effort on the defensive end and play with a style reflective of Wollongong's working-class heritage.

"We're a hard-nosed, try and out-work you kind of team," Campbell said. "I guess the Illawarra prides itself on being that as well, being hard-working. A 'working-class team' I guess you'd call us.

"We're not cheating the salary cap, we do everything by the rules and we have to work our arses off to make sure we get right up there in the standings."

After some late additions to the playing roster in the preseason, Campbell says the squad is starting to "find itself" and play with a blue-collar identity.

"We're now about a third of the way through the season and our roles are starting to get established," he said.

"People have got a better idea of what's expected of everybody when they step on the floor - defensively especially. The identity doesn't leave any questions for the group - you know you have to go out there and play D, if not, you're coming out of the game."

The veteran guard said his team wasn't concerned about the tough run of away fixtures and were concentrating on rectifying the defensive lapses in the shock 111-110 loss to the Gold Coast Blaze last Friday.

"If we just focus on our style - keeping teams under 100 points or even 90 - then that will take care of the road wins."