Second-placed Wollongong suffered their first loss in six games last week against Sydney and the sixth-placed Taipans might be wise to take a leaf out of the Kings' playbook.

"I'm sure they would've watched what the Kings did last week and will try to do some of the same stuff," Wollongong centre Larry Davidson said.

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"That's what it's like in this league. Teams are going to scout you and figure out what you've been doing good and try to take it away.

"The Kings did a good job of that and we've been working on stuff this week to try and counter that, because Cairns are always really good defensively."

Davidson rejected suggestions the loss to Sydney had affected the Hawks' confidence.

"It's not really panic stations or anything," he said.

The Taipans (3-4) were widely tipped to finish in the top four but have underachieved so far.

Three of those four losses were on their home court.

The Hawks are nursing heavy hearts after guard Tyson Demos's father Kon passed away on Monday. The team will wear black armbands tonight, while a minute's silence will be held before tip-off.