Dave Gruber and Oscar Forman are ready. Picture: KIRK GILMOUR
BASKETBALL
The Wollongong Hawks can take a giant step toward a semi-finals berth when they host arch-rivals Sydney tonight at WIN Entertainment Centre.
Despite losing three members of their starting five in January and 14 of their past 18 games, the Hawks (11-15) only have to win their final two matches - they play Adelaide at home next week - to be assured of a top four finish.
But if they succumb to the Kings (11-15), Wollongong could end up kicking cans with the also-rans.
"It's absolutely the biggest game of the season for us and everyone needs to come out and act like it," Hawks captain Oscar Forman said.
"Sydney are in exactly the same situation as us. It's pretty much do or die."
After losing their past two meetings with the Kings in Sydney, the Hawks are happy to be on home turf for such a vital clash.
"We need all of Wollongong to come out and support us - we need to pack the stadium," Forman said.
"The crowd is our sixth man and we need them like it's a grand final. When we go to Sydney, it's tough playing up there. So when they come down the road we need all our people coming out and hating them.
"You can't say enough about how big the game is - this is pretty much our season."
Brutal defence has been a feature of all three of their meetings this season. And tonight's should be no different, particularly with so much at stake.
Adris Deleon looms as Wollongong's weapon, and NBL leading scorer Ben Madgen will be fired up to lead the way for the visitors.
"Madgen has been a big improver this season," Forman said.
"We'll throw different things at him and junk up our defence. We want to use our team defence to stop him rather than just leave it to one man to deal with.
"Having said that, even though he's obviously a target of ours we have to stop, there's a lot of guys we need to focus on. They've got scorers and guys who can have an impact right across the board."
If the Hawks can thrash the Kings by at least 19 points, they will clinch the four-game regular season series.
Tonight's clash tips off at the earlier time of 6pm.