Demolishing Adelaide the spur Hawks needed

It took almost three-quarters of the season to find a winning edge, but the Wollongong Hawks have finally struck the right formula.

The Hawks are riding a four-game win streak into tonight's all-important home clash with Adelaide, a surge which officially makes them the league's hottest team.

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Even more striking, their average winning margin during the streak is an impressive 18.8 points.

Centre Larry Davidson believes the Hawks got a new lease on life after demolishing Adelaide by 22 three weeks ago and haven't looked back.

"It's been a lot of fun the way we've been playing lately, and the more you play that way, you want to keep playing like that," Davidson said.

"You're locked into your job, because you know if you get a stop and a rebound, we're off and running. It's just like a tidal wave because your confidence just keeps building. Someone will hit a shot and we're running down the court smiling at each other, slapping fives. You go to a time-out and everyone's off the bench, jumping into each other.

"That's why you play team sport, to get that feeling. We just have to work on keeping it there.

"Like we have in the last few games, the challenge this week against Adelaide is to stay locked in with our defence and not give them any hot stretches."

After losing to the 36ers by six points and one point in two meetings in Adelaide, the Hawks happily returned the favour earlier this month in Wollongong.

But the Sixers have developed into a fiercely proud and determined team under first-year coach Joey Wright and will be stinging to make a statement.