Bumper crowds have been a feature of the team's home games but Gainey would like to see even more people filter into the stands for the Big V division one semi-final against Melbourne University.

He said average crowd numbers had hovered around the 400-500 mark this season.

Tonight he is hoping for at least 700.

Gainey said he had good reason to raise the bar.

"It's our first final in three years," he said.

"The crowd plays a big role in what we do on the court.

"If the fans get behind us it makes us play at a higher level.

"It makes you want to succeed for us and them."

After travelling to Melbourne and Geelong for away matches throughout the 18-round fixture, the Seahawks have come to appreciate their home-town support.

Gainey said some sides would be lucky to get and audience of more than 40.

"Any team in the league would say Warrnambool has the best fans," he said.

"Country towns have the biggest crowds.

"It's all about supporting the community. We go out to schools and they come to watch us on weekends."

In their past two encounters, Warrnambool has edged out Melbourne University by five and three points.

The enthusiastic coach said his group would put on another stellar Saturday night show.

"Everyone can go to the footy during the day, rest up and then come out to watch us," Gainey said.

"It's a real family event.

"You can bring the kids out and relax, it's a really good atmosphere."

The Seahawks watched vision of their previous match against the university outfit at Thursday night's training session.

While close attention will be paid to Black Angels trio Scott Cuffe, Liam Norton and Nickolas Masunda, Gainey said Warrnambool would be playing its own game.

"It's a fact that those guys get 80 percent of their team's score every week, so we have to focus on that.

"But there are other players as well that we have to think about."

After receiving a U.S basketball scholarship, captain Nathan Sobey will provide another incentive to take the first win of the best-of-three final.

"We're certainly playing for him," Gainey said.

"He will be playing hard knowing it's his last series for a while.

"Tonight is our chance to put a stamp on game one."

Tip-off is at 7pm.