Kings coach Shane Heal will be vocal as always against the Hawks tomorrow night. Picture: GETTY IMAGES
BASKETBALL
Sydney coach Shane Heal has prepared the Kings for a cauldron-like atmosphere for tomorrow night's grudge match against long-time rivals Wollongong.
Hawks followers generally don't need any extra incentive to deride the Kings, but the stakes are much higher than usual with only two rounds remaining.
Both teams are sharing third spot with 11-15 records.
The winner will almost certainly go on to clinch third spot. The loser faces the prospect of missing the playoffs altogether.
Wollongong conquered Sydney by three at home in the opening round of the season.
The big-city boys responded with 14-point and seven-point wins over the Hawks in Sydney, but the Kings expect to come under fire from Hawks fans tomorrow.
"This is by far the biggest game of the season for us, and it's the same for Wollongong," Heal said.
"I'd be disappointed if it wasn't [a cauldron]. I'd expect the Wollongong faithful to be out there really supporting their team, given that they're so close to making the playoffs. We're looking forward to it.
"I think it's going to be a great game and it's only going to enhance the rivalry and add to the history between the two clubs.
"I hope there's a lot of Sydney Kings fans that go down. It's a TV game, it's two weeks before the finals, it's just going to be a massive game. I'm really excited about getting down there and getting into it."
The Kings were thrashed on the road by Perth last week but should be bolstered by the return of veterans Ian Crosswhite and James Harvey.
Sydney have lost 10 of their past 11 games, while the Hawks have won just four of their past 18.
"If someone had've said to us at the start of the year that we had to win our final two games to make the playoffs, we probably would've taken that," Heal said.
"We know we have to win the last two games to make the playoffs.
"We feel good going into the game, but we know Wollongong's a team that's tough to beat down there."
Tip-off tomorrow is at the earlier time of 6pm to allow for the 8pm kick-off of the Dragons and Broncos clash at neighbouring WIN Stadium.