Former NBL most valuable player Brian Conklin is confident the club can make Canberra a second home and ride a wave of support when they play against the Cairns Taipans at the AIS Arena on January 26.

The Hawks and the ACT government are using the game as a test event to see if there is an appetite for more NBL action in the coming years.

Part of the $125,000 deal was the Hawks committing to three days of coaching clinics and a camp at the AIS, with players spread around schools on Tuesday and Wednesday before a practice game against the Centre of Excellence on Thursday.

The Hawks and Taipans are locked in a fight to avoid the bottom of the ladder and will play against each other on December 7 before meeting again in the capital on Australia Day.

It will be the first time NBL action has returned to Canberra since 2008 and Conklin hopes the momentum built at school camps and a sold-out pre-season game would translate into support in January.

"We want to play fast, get out in transition and show our athleticism," Conklin said.

"We want to put up a lot of points and hopefully that makes for an exciting spectacle in Canberra. I know [Canberra fans] will be on board. They were heavily leaning towards us in the pre-season and I could feel that energy.

"It felt really cool to have a pro-Hawks crowd so I'm hoping for the same when we get up here on Australia Day."

The Hawks could be on course for a schedule clash with the Canberra Capitals, who will be hosting a WNBL finals match that weekend if they secure a top-two finish on the ladder.

Officials are yet to speak about avoiding a competition for fans, but the government wants the Hawks to work with the Capitals instead of against them.

The Hawks are second last on the ladder, but the tightness of the NBL means they sit just one win outside of a top-four spot after 11 games.

They did, however, secure a tense win against the Adelaide 36ers in a fiery contest last weekend, which featured nine technical fouls and led to three players being ejected.

"Adelaide is a team that hangs their hat on going to the free-throw line a lot. I think we did a good job of trying to match their physicality and beat them at their own game," Conklin said.

"We attacked the basket ... we shot a lot of free-throws and I think the referees awarded us for being aggressive. Everyone has games where you want to blame the refs, but it is what it is."

The Hawks, coached by Canberra guru Rob Beveridge, were hoping to find out on Tuesday whether veteran star Dave Andersen was facing suspension for being one of the three players ejected.

Beveridge said two weeks ago referees were unfairly targeting Conklin because of his physical style. Conklin said the Hawks would continue to play "bully ball" to build momentum into their season and rise up the rankings.

"Bevo has been saying it and it's no secret, we want to play bully ball. We want to attack the rim and I feel like we went away from that," Conklin said.

"We got back to the brand we played in the pre-season and that was good for us. That's the type of brand that's good for us."