That’s the message from coach Rob Beveridge and his Illawarra Hawks squad on the eve of their grand final series showdown with NBL heavyweights Perth Wildcats.

After cementing their spot in the decider with a stunning 106-98 road win over Adelaide 36ers on Thursday night, Illawarra will face the seven-time champions at Perth Arena in game one of their series on Sunday afternoon.

As they have for most of the season, Illawarra head into the series as underdogs.

However, Beveridge and the Hawks have other ideas.

“You can see it in their eyes. They are going ‘hey, we aren’t here to make up the numbers, we are here to win this’,” the coach said.

For the Hawks to win their second NBL championship they’ll will need to beat the Wildcats at least once away from home – a feat they’ve accomplished just once in the past 11 years.

That victory came earlier this season when Illawarra broke a run of 26 straight losses in the West Australian capital with a gutsy 89-85 victory. The triumph will give the Hawks the confidence to repeat the feat on the league’s biggest stage, according to Beveridge.

"We feel great about ourselves," Beveridge said.

"We don't put any pressure on ourselves.

"We just go out and play our asses off. I have always said on any given day we can beat anyone. It is a very tough environment where we are up against 14,000 screaming fans. It is going to get loud and stuff but we have to find a way.

"I believe in our group and they believe in themselves so we can make it happen."

The series will have added significance for Beveridge, who coached the Wildcats to the title back in the 2009-10 season.

This is his first grand final series with the Hawks in his second year in charge.

"It is pretty surreal," Beveridge said.

"I just think, well here we go I am up against my [old] boys again. But we were 2-2 this year. We beat them in Perth so we are going in with a swagger.

"They are the ones that have the expectation that they will win.

"That is exactly the same as Adelaide.

"We were meant to be swept by Adelaide and here we are in the grand final."

Perth to progressed to the decider with a 2-0 sweep of the Cairns Taipans.

Illawarra will be without import Marvelle Harris in the opening clash, who has returned to the US for personal reasons but is expected to play in game two in Wollongong on Wednesday.

Star centre AJ Ogilvy is also in doubt with a badly sprained ankle.