Illawarra will have to buck one of the most remarkable trends in NBL history if they are to outlast Melbourne United in an emotional rollercoaster of a championship series.
After four encounters in the tense best-of-five contest, neither side have been able to defend their home court.
Rival coaches Justin Tatum and Dean Vickerman are at a loss to explain the phenomenon.
But Melbourne's import centre Marcus Lee took a swing ahead of the title decider at Wollongong's WIN Entertainment Centre on Sunday.
"It's March Madness, baby," Lee told AAP, borrowing a tag from US college basketball's showpiece.
"I personally have never been in a series like this and that's the craziness of play-offs.
"It's been a series for the history books and you've got to just enjoy the moments, enjoy the ups and downs of what's happening."
Illawarra ensured the series would go the distance when they overcame the absence of star import Trey Kell (knee) and loss of key big-man Sam Froling (achilles) to win 80-71 in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
"I've never seen my team that locked-in, in game four, in the almost two years that I've been here," Tatum said.
"I want to reciprocate that because they were all determined to find a way to win that game."
Despite blowing the chance to clinch the title at home, Melbourne remain positive ahead of the decider in enemy territory - where they have won three of four this season.
"Teams would love to win quickly but this is what every kid's dreaming of - the last shot, the last game," Lee said.
"We get to play in literally our dream-come-true game, so we're excited about it.
"When you look around our team, everybody's still up and about.
"Our confidence exudes through each other. We share that."
Illawarra's All-NBL First Team guard Kell is a strong chance to return on Sunday.
But front-court powerhouse Froling, who was instrumental for the Hawks until limping off before halftime in game four, faces a long stint on the sidelines.
Melbourne's Shea Ili remains in doubt after being sidelined since suffering a head knock in game two.
Illawarra sharpshooter Tyler Harvey and energiser Will Hickey will lead the charge against an experienced United outfit steered by NBA title winner Matthew Dellavedova and hot-handed veteran Chris Goulding.
Froling's absence means Lachie Olbrich, Mason Peatling and Darius Days are among those who must shoulder greater responsibility.
"They've been playing great all series - all of their bigs, all of their players - so it doesn't change anything for us," Lee said.
"They're a hard group of players and the thing that they do really well is just play really hard.
"There's no time off against them."
NBL heavyweights Melbourne are chasing a seventh title overall and third under the United banner with Vickerman at the helm, after claiming four in their previous incarnation as the Tigers.
Only one of nine teams who have trailed 2-1 in a best-of-five title series - as Illawarra did this time - have fought back to lift the Dr John Raschke Trophy.
An NBL foundation club in 1979, the perennial underdog Hawks are chasing their second championship after finishing on top of the ladder for the first time in their history this season.
"I told the team, Illawarra have never had the opportunity to celebrate that championship, to win the decisive game in Illawarra," Tatum said.
"They had to win it on the road (in 2001) so I said, 'It's our time'.
"Our team could have folded in game two and game four.
"There's a reason for us to be here and we've got to make sure we finish the story."
The past seven NBL championship series games have been won by the away team, starting with game three in last year's epic decider, won by Tasmania against Melbourne.
