Illawarra Hawks coach Rob Beveridge has challenged his side to show their character against finals-bound Adelaide.
Beveridge views the third-placed 36ers as the best team he has faced this season and says his team must be determined not to suffer a third loss to them following two convincing defeats last month.
"They kicked our arse massively (in) the last two games," Beveridge said.
"They made a statement. It was man versus children.
"That was probably the biggest arse-kicking we've had as a club in a long time.
"They absolutely dominated us. They were the best team we've played against this season."
The Hawks, who lie out of play-off contention in fifth, will come into the game on the back of a 99-91 away defeat to the Brisbane Bullets, when a substandard first-half display saw them 19 points adrift before a late rally.
"They're a legitimate championship team and I want to see (whether) we have the character to be able to turn up and play like we did in the third and fourth quarter effort-wise for the whole game," Beveridge said.
"If we do that we can compete. If we come out like we did in the first and second they will absolutely kick our arse.
"Right now we're going out to beat them. We've got to have a bit of pride to defend our home court. What a challenge that will be.
"We've got to have a really hard look at ourselves before this game ... you can't pick and choose when you turn up. If you don't put the effort in, you don't deserve a job."
