However coach Dean Vickerman will look for someone to step up against the Hawks should captain Chris Goulding's knee injury keep him out of the clash.

Goulding dropped a season-high 29 points against the Perth Wildcats on Saturday before he was forced from the court just before the end of regular time.

The Cats claimed a five-point win in double overtime. United managed just 12 points in the extra 10 minutes with Goulding sidelined.

Vickerman said he was disappointed no one stepped up.

"(Chris) was phenomenal tonight. I was disappointed we didn't have other people step up when he went out," Vickerman said.

"Some people tried but we didn't have someone with the fire to take the game on when he went out.

"He didn't start tonight, so there is potential to roll out the same group we started with (on Monday)."

Goulding has top scored for United in two of four games this season and is averaging 20 points per game.

This round is already the second of three United will play their home game having already played away on the same weekend.

In Round 1, they beat the Hawks by one point after four periods of overtime, only to lose to the New Zealand Breakers in Melbourne by seven points two nights later.

It's something they need to get right if they are going to claim back-to-back titles, as they have five more weekends where the same thing happens.

And they need to get it right quickly. A loss to the Hawks will see them fall to 2-3, with Cairns (away) and Sydney (home) waiting for them in Round 4.

"Half of our home games, we have to play away before we play home," Vickerman said.

"So, you have to get used to the travel. Whether it's a road game or a home game, you have to make sure you move on quickly."

Australian Associated Press