It all comes down to this for the Illawarra 'brotherhood'.
Across 40 minutes in Wollongong on Sunday, the Hawks will write the final chapter in their rags-to-riches story, which began with a last-placed finish two NBL seasons ago.
They have sacked a coach since then, endured a heartbreaking elimination from last year's play-offs, and appeared down for the count more than once in the ongoing championship series against Melbourne United.
Illawarra have fought back from a demoralising game-one loss at home, injuries to stars Sam Froling and Trey Kell and headlines following coach Justin Tatum's verbal attack on the referees.
But for guard Will Hickey, it's only fitting that the Hawks have scrapped their way to the end and locked up a game-five, winner-take-all clash against United.
Hickey said the Hawks' "nitty-gritty" style of basketball had become their identity.
"That's why the Illawarra community has gotten around us so much this year, just seeing the team that we are, being the blue-collar workers they are down this way, the hard workers," Hickey said.
"They love to see that nitty-gritty stuff. We just epitomise that."
The vast majority of the Hawks' squad that runs out for game five were there when they were languishing in the depths of the ladder less than two years ago.
Of the players who made the floor in game four, only imports Kell and Darius Days were not on the books when the Hawks fired ex-coach Jacob Jackomas after a 2-7 start to last season.
Through adversity, the team has become stronger.
"I truly believe that we've got a brotherhood here, we've built something throughout the year," Hickey said.
"We're just trying to cap that off the right way, something that'll really seal that and solidify who we are, not just as a team but as a brotherhood."
Now, Illawarra can taste a historic second title for the city of Wollongong, and first since the 2000/01 season.
"What I want to see is a smile on the faces of the kids and being able to hang that banner for the city," said coach Tatum.
"I think it's way more important to them than I could ever imagine."
