The NBL double-header for the Hawks in the south this week will be an ideal litmus test.
"There'll have to be no excuses. We have to go out before hostile crowds ... and everybody is doing the right things," says assistant Hawks coach George Galanopoulos before they face the Canterbury Rams and Southland Sharks tomorrow and on Sunday, respectively.
"It'll be good to see how we handle the adversity."
It' was going well despite the Hawks having three wins and as many losses.
"They weren't very good losses and they didn't look good but I think it's too early in the season for me to panic."