Coenraad answered coach Brian Goorjian's call last month to come out of retirement for a second stint with the Illawarra team. Since he returned to the court against Adelaide on May 21, the Hawks have won five out of six games to charge into this year's NBL finals.

"It's been a great challenge, but a welcomed challenge too. The first few weeks were about getting back in game shape, there's a different fitness level to actually playing the game. But since then, the body is starting to feel really good and now, it's a lot of fun," Coenraad said.

"Playing for 'Goorj' is great because the emphasis is on the defensive end and there's freedom on the offensive end. So it's been a real refresher for me. It's almost like I'm Steven Bradbury, I get to come in right at the end and come to the playoffs."

Coenraad has been given managed game time since returning to the Hawks. But the forward grabbed attention in Illawarra's last regular season game, mustering nine points and five rebounds in nearly 20 minutes on the court against the Kings.

The 36-year-old drained three trademark baskets from long range, taking his tally to 13 three-pointers in the past six games.

"Shooting's never really become much of a problem for me. It's just one of those things, you have an ability to shoot the ball. And after you take a week or two to get the reps up, it just comes back to you," Coenraad said.

"One of the things that I'm really trying to focus on now is the defensive end and getting our rotations right, because these guys have been doing it a lot longer than me and it's good to learn from these guys, in how they move, how they rotate, how we're going to be affected defensively. And you have to evolve as a team over the season, we're not running the exact same stuff as the start of the season. It's been really good to see that evolution from the sidelines and now be part of it as a player."

This week will mark the first time the Hawks have reached the playoffs in four years. They are still waiting to find out who they will meet, with Tuesday night's clash between the Phoenix and Bullets affecting the make-up of the NBL finals.

But no matter who they face, the Hawks will be ready.

"It's a great story. You see what these guys have been through this year going through the Albury away trip and then being in the hub, and being away from family," Coenraad said. "For them to come out eight of the last 10 and make a push for finals, man, it's a real testament to what this group has been able to do. Now it's about rattling some cages and coming away with some wins."