Cairns Taipans coach Aaron Fearne has adopted a bring-it-on approach for his team's upcoming showdown with NBL leaders Sydney.
Winless after three rounds, the Taipans have moved off the bottom of the ladder with impressive round four defeats of Melbourne United (83-76) and Illawarra (98-83).
Cairns host the red-hot Kings on Saturday night before they square off again two nights later in Sydney.
The Kings have won five straight, including a 92-78 home victory over the Taipans in round two.
But Fearne has worked key players back into the lineup after injury issues late in the preseason and is rubbing his hands together at the prospect of the unique home and away double against the championship favourites, who overcame the absence of star guard Kevin Lisch to beat Brisbane 87-78 on Sunday.
"We're really looking forward to that," Fearne said.
"We've got the number one team coming into our building next week and then we turn around and hop on a plane together and go back and play them on Monday in Sydney.
"They've put a huge amount of resources into that franchise and their talent of player is very impressive.
They're playing great basketball and (coach) Andrew Gaze is doing a great job of getting them hooping.
"We felt we played them pretty well at their place a couple of weeks ago and just let it go in that last couple of minutes.
"But they're coming to our place and we want to defend our home court."
The Taipans led at every change against the Hawks on Sunday, who slipped to last place with a 2-5 record.
"We're in a hole at the moment," Illawarra coach Rob Beveridge said.
"We have to lick our wounds but we're not going to lay down. The whole time I've said to the guys that I'm a fighter and I expect that from the team as well.
"Last year we didn't start real well. Obviously we haven't started well this season so we have to put our fingers in the dyke real quickly."
The Hawks host Melbourne United on Sunday.
