They've scored just two goals and taken only three points from their past five games.
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So coach Oli Vrtkovski is desperate to re-ignite Wollongong United's season against Tarrawanna on Saturday.
United meet the Blueys at Macedonia Park three days before taking on another finals contender in Woonona on Tuesday night, as they clear a backlog of games created by the state of the pitch.
Precariously placed in sixth on 22 points, United are one behind the Sharks, but four behind Tarrawanna.
"It's been a tough run, a lot of games and some key injuries," Vrtkovski said.
"But I feel like we're one result from going on a run and obviously we need to create some opportunities and find some goals to make that happen. It will be tough for us too, I expect Tarrawanna will sit deeper, make us come at them and hit us on the counter attack, so we've just got to keep working hard.
"Woonona will be pretty much the same, but right now we just have to worry about playing well against Tarrawanna."
Hikaru Kawasakiya and and Shane Murray are United's leading goalscorers with five each, as United have failed to score more than once in a game since beating Port Kembla 3-1 in May.
Still, they've scored as many as Woonona have this year, with a total of 23 for the campaign and have the second best defensive record in the league, only behind runaway leaders Wollongong Olympic.
Corrimal clash with Albion Park in the race for second.
Tarrawanna will also have to back up, in the imposing Fraternity Cup semi-final showdown with Olympic on Tuesday, where they would meet the winner of Bulli and Port Kembla in the final.
It will be a fascinating test of Olympic's treble credentials, especially as Saturday's opponents South Coast United are locked in a relegation dogfight with Fernhill and Cringila. Olympic are seven points clear with six games remaining. Fernhill will be eyeing off points against Port to move off the bottom, while Cringila's mid-season resurgence will be tested by champions Bulli, who can stay firmly in the finals hunt.
ILLAWARRA PREMIER LEAGUE
Round 17
Saturday (2.30pm)
BULLI v CRINGILA at Balls Paddock, CONISTON v WOONONA at JJ Kelly Park, WOLLONGONG UNITED v TARRAWANNA at Macedonia Park, WOLLONGONG OLYMPIC v SOUTH COAST UNITED at North Wollongong PCYC, PORT KEMBLA v FERNHILL at Wetherall Park.
Sunday (3pm)
ALBION PARK v CORRIMAL at Terry Reserve
Tuesday (8pm)
WOLLONGONG UNITED v WOONONA at Macedonia Park
BERT BAMPTON CUP
Semi-finals
Tuesday (8pm)
TARRAWANNA v WOLLONGONG OLYMPIC at Ray Robinson Field
Wednesday (8pm)
PORT KEMBLA v BULLI at Wetherall Park
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