Tip-off: Friday, January 27, 7.30pm (local), WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

TV: ONE 10.30pm (check local guides)

Last time they met: Melbourne 82 (Mills 20, Ubaka 14, Dillon 13) d Wollongong 74 (Catron 18, Coenraad 13, Demos 10), Round 4, 2011/12, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Surprised
Spending his first day at Hawks training on Tuesday, new import Ayinde Ubaka almost felt like he had returned to Cairns.

“How Gordie (McLeod) and how (Aaron) Fearne work is quite similar, everything is very focused and detailed and we train hard,” he said.

Ubaka admitted he “didn’t know what to expect” in Wollongong but likes what he sees.

“I’m surprised by their record when I see the way they train and the energy around the club. Everything around here feels like they’re a winning group of guys.”

“Every guy on this team can shoot,” he said. “Gordie definitely instils a lot of confidence into his players, telling them to be ready to shoot and not to worry if they miss.

“That’s what you want as a player.”

Old friends
Ubaka is looking forward to this Friday night, jesting that he gives the Hawks an added advantage when it comes to scouting the Tigers.

“I know every single play,” he laughed.

“I am not sure it will help that much this week though, I don’t know how much 'shuffle' they’ll be running with the new guy in. They’ll probably play with a lot of on-ball (screens) because he’s pretty quick.”

The "new guy" is import Myron Allen, who showed promise with 13 points and eight assists in last week’s debut against Gold Coast. Ubaka believes keeping him out of the lane is a must.

“We’ve got to stop the ball first, that’s everything, and then worry about the open guy after that,” he said.

Hot or cold?
A key for the Tigers will be captain Tommy Greer, whose shooting has been as vital as his hustle this season. In wins he has made 16-of-31 from the field, but in losses that slips to a woeful 12-of-46.

“He can shoot,” Ubaka said without hesitation.

“He gets stops, rebounds, finds the open man, but he can also hit shots if you forget about him. He does it in training and he does it in games, he just quietly goes about his business.”

Melbourne’s shooting as a whole will be tested this week. Apart from Ubaka and Patty Mills, who shot at 37 and 35 per cent respectively while at the Tigers, they have connected on just 85-of-295 threes (29%).

This will allow teams to swarm star big man Cam Tragardh, who has averaged just 12 points and shot 38 per cent from the field in the past three games.

The wrap
Ubaka is not sure what he will provide on Friday night – saying he is still getting to know coach McLeod and learning “where players like the ball and when they like to shoot” – but is sure the team will put on a good show.

“The team works hard, they want to give the fans something to be proud about. I’m not just here to finish off the season on the bottom, we want to get some wins,” he said.

The Hawks’ last home win was two months ago against Adelaide. Since then they have averaged a meagre 12 points in third quarters at home, and might be advised to use the visitors changerooms at half-time.

Melbourne have lost their past five games by an average of 11.4 points, but if Allen, Ron Dorsey and Daniel Dillon can repeat last week’s 7-of-10 long-range shooting their new point guard could carve up the Hawks’ defence.

If the Tigers go back to their wayward ways, however, Wollongong should shut down the keyway and give their fans some long-awaited joy.

Prediction: Hawks by 6