Tip-off: Saturday, February 4, 6.30pm (local), Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

TV: ONE 10.30pm (check local guides)

Last time they met: Gold Coast 83 (Goulding 16, Petrie 13, Cadee 11, Gibson 11, Hudson 11) d Wollongong 58 (Catron 13, Demos 10), Round 3, 2011/12, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Turn it around
From misery three weeks ago the Hawks and Blaze have spun full circle and will be looking at the last eight weeks of the season with renewed vigour.

Gold Coast have found their roles offensively and revealed a newfound passion for defence, while Wollongong rediscovered the discipline and confidence that made them such a tough opponent the past two years.

After beating the Taipans in Cairns and nearly toppling Townsville, the Hawks added Ayinde Ubaka as the perfect cherry on the sundae and dismantled Melbourne.

With Ubaka, Rhys Martin and Glen Saville all creating shots, the Hawks nailed 13-of-31 from beyond the arc last round.

Adam Gibson, Jason Cadee and Adris DeLeon have been menacing but controlled in the open court for the Blaze, who have been capitalising well on the size and speed mismatches their three-forward frontline creates.

The match-ups
Adam Gibson v Ayinde Ubaka: There is a good chance Gibson will get the job on his former teammate given the danger Ubaka presents as a creator for the Hawks’ bevy of shooters. Gibson has averaged 15.8 points in his past five games but has hit just one of his last seven three-point attempts.

Adris DeLeon v Rhys Martin: With Ubaka providing ball-handling assistance last week Martin was a freed man, creating numerous open shots, particularly for Mat Campbell. When DeLeon shoots 40 per cent or better the Blaze are 6-2, when he is off-target they slip to 3-4. The ability of this pair to pick the right moment to attack will be crucial for their teams.

Mark Worthington v Glen Saville: Two of the greatest small forwards of recent times, Worthington is working beautifully with Gibson and DeLeon to find open shots, while Sav nailed 4 of 5 triples the past fortnight after making just 6 of 31 to that point. Saville is handing out three assists a game in the past two months, while Wortho dishes out 2.2 in wins and just one a game in losses.

Anthony Petrie v Larry Davidson: Two former NSW Country teammates reunite in what is always a physical battle. Petrie has been very efficient the past seven games, averaging 9.7 points and shooting 50 per cent from the field. Davidson hit his first three-pointer in 17 attempts last week and has upped his rebounding to 6.2 a game in the past two months.

Will Hudson v Oscar Forman: Hudson has collected 19 offensive rebounds in the past five games – only Julian Khazzouh and Jerai Grant have grabbed more in that time. Forman and Co. must be disciplined to keep Hudson off the glass and also take him to the perimeter at the offensive end where his mobility can be exploited.

The wrap
Wollongong are a new outfit with Ubaka and certainly not a bottom-of-the-table proposition, but when Gold Coast pay attention to defence – as they have the past three games – they are a playoff-calibre team.

Prediction: Blaze by 8