Daniel Eade is a freelance basketball writer.

The Melbourne Tigers are in a must-win situation this weekend to halt their season from spiralling out of control.

The Tigers, who host the Wollongong Hawks (3-1) on Sunday evening, are currently the only winless team in the league and are locked in the basement with an 0-3 clip ahead of their clash with last season's Grand Finalists.

What makes this upcoming game so crucial for the Tigers, apart from the obvious, is the Tigers have a tough schedule ahead where they will play Wollongong again (away), Perth (home), the Gold Coast (away) and the Townsville (Away), with a very realistic proposition having the Tigers still without a win when December comes.

If the Tigers are to gain any kind of momentum in November it must begin immediately and hopefully ignite the team up the standings.

The scary thought that the Melbourne Tigers could sit with an 0-8 record within three weeks time should be enough to frighten the playing group into action.

After two of the most embarrassing losses in their history to start the season, the Tigers displayed a much better performance in New Zealand last week, and despite another loss, the signs pointed to a definitive improvement in the team and the structure.

Now the Tigers are faced with a massive task when the Hawks coming knocking on Sunday.

The Gong come to town on the back of a morale boosting road win last week against the Adelaide 36ers, and only 48 hours earlier they had come within inches of defeating the defending champion Wildcats out West.

This from a Hawks team that only won three times on the road all of last season, going 3-14 (including the playoffs).

The Hawks of 2010/11 may be a better team than last season with new import Gary Ervin running the show and becoming an early favourite for the MVP award. And this Hawks team are still without Rhys Martin (ankle) and have been without Dave Gruber (ankle) for the last three games.

When Cameron Tragardh left Wollongong at the end of last season, following the yellow brick road to Melbourne, most people expected the Hawks to turn into a disaster, but the exact opposite has happened and Tragardh now finds himself stuck with the cellar dwellers as his old team continues to remain in the upper echelon of championship favourites.

Tragardh, who is playing below average as he adjusts to his new role as a small-forward, is averaging 11.7ppg but only a dismal 3.7 rebounds per night, and the Tigers have been out-rebounded in all three contests to date, despite having a frontline of Luke Nevill, Wade Helliwell, Matt Burston and Tragardh to crash the glass.

If Melbourne are going to turn their season around then Tragardh needs to lift his game to the next level.

The Tigers are hopeful of regaining Burston for the clash against the Hawks, after Burston did not play against the Breakers due to a knee injury, but it is unlikely Tommy Greer (Shoulder) will be passed fit to play. Rookie Lucas Walker is also still out with a knee injury.

If the Tigers slump to 0-4, it will be time for heads to roll.