Illawarra guard Will Hickey admits he still holds "some animosity" towards Melbourne United as he fights to help end his former side's NBL championship dream.
Starting in the absence of the injured Trey Kell, Hickey was the depleted Hawks' top-scorer in the game-four win that took the series to a decisive fifth game.
Hickey was too pumped to sleep in the days after that victory, but is confident he'll be at his best for game five on Sunday, when the Hawks will push for a fairytale second NBL title.
"I haven't been able to sleep the past couple of nights, just a lot of jitters, a lot of nerves runnings through me," Hickey said.
"(But) once I cross that white line, I'm good, I'm ready."
Hickey was nominated for best sixth man in recognition for a career-best season at the Hawks, who signed him after he played the 2021/22 campaign with United.
Previously on the books at South East Melbourne, Hickey averaged less than two minutes on court in his seven games as a development player at United.
He told AAP in February he felt he was never given a chance to prove himself as an NBL talent before Justin Tatum took over as Hawks coach last season.
Game-four hero Hickey felt playing United brought the best out in him.
"It speaks for itself, there's some animosity there towards each other, me being there and not getting opportunities or whatnot," he said.
"Here we are, I'm trying to close things out. They're a great team, but that's sort of where it lies there. Just leave it at that."
Hickey said it would be sweet to get one over the team that spurned him, but that his priorities were with the Hawks.
"Yeah, but I don't want it (revenge) to be the reason I win, or the thing I'm reflecting on the most," he said.
"If we do do that and we go out and play hard, I want to soak it in with the guys I'm with, more than trying to focus on the bitterness of beating a former team."
With Kell still under an injury cloud for Sunday's winner-take-all clash, Tatum expected an energetic performance from the famously peppy Hickey.
"(I expect) for him to rip somebody's head off and hopefully legally get away with it," the coach joked.
"We wouldn't be in a situation like this if it wasn't for Will Hickey. I'm expecting him to do the same thing, but hopefully make an impact and help us win a game."
