His side lost its opening match of the ASB Premiership 2-0 to Waitakere United last weekend, and is one of just two teams (Wellington Phoenix) without a competition point.
''We don't want to get isolated,'' Fridge said.
''Most teams have got points on the board and I'm wanting points on the board. To be perfectly honest, I go into every game wanting to win it, and if I can't win it, I will take a draw.''
Southern United's task has been made more difficult by the unavailability of seven players, including captain Matt Joy.
He, Tristan Prattley, Regan Coldicott and Morgan Day have a wedding to attend, while defenders Ross Howard (groin) and Josh Stewart (calf) are injured.
Tim McClennan is also unavailable due to personal reasons, but the blow has been softened by the return of four players who were unavailable last week.
Scottish striker Sam French, who was a late scratching from last week's loss with an ankle injury, got through training on Thursday and will make his Southern United debut.
Midfielder Seamus Ryder also missed the season opener with a knee injury, but will captain the team tomorrow in Joy's absence.
Defender Craig Ferguson is over his knee injury and has been included in the 15-strong squad to travel to Napier this afternoon, while Harley Rodeka is also in line to play.
He was unavailable due to work commitments in Auckland last week, but moved to Dunedin on Wednesday and trained with the team on Thursday.
''It balances out,'' Fridge said.
''It would be nice to have everybody fit and available for selection, but that's why you have a big squad.''
While both goals Southern United conceded were perhaps a bit unlucky last weekend, the team struggled on attack, particularly in the first half.
Passes were not finding their target and the ball was too often turned over in dangerous areas.
As a result, Southern United found itself defending for the majority of the match.
Fridge believes a lack of preseason games, nerves and little time together as a team is to blame, but knows his team needs to do better tomorrow.
''I'm looking to start better,'' he said.
''We were just slow out of the blocks last Sunday. We didn't really create in that first half at all. I think we sat back a wee bit. We want to push forward, we want to play attacking football.''
Fridge was ''quite happy'' with the way his team defended in its season opener, but said the team needs to be smarter inside the penalty area.
He does not agree with the penalty his team conceded last week, but said it was concerning to concede one so early after being plagued by them a year ago.
Southern United conceded a staggering 11 penalties last year, many of them crippling.
Hawkes Bay United, which won the corresponding fixture between the sides 3-1 a year ago, opened its season with a 1-1 draw against defending champion Auckland City.
Last year's losing finalist scored late in the match to walk away with a point in Auckland, and will now pursue its first win of the season at home.
''They got a good draw against Auckland. They will be confident,'' Fridge said.
''It's their first home game of the season. We're expecting another very difficult game. It's a beautiful surface to play on [Bluewater Stadium]. so we're really looking forward to it.''
The Southern United youth team, which is second in the national league behind Wellington, faces Nelson-Marlborough at Logan Park at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Southern United v Hawkes Bay United
Napier, tomorrow, 1pm
Southern United: Tom Batty, Craig Ferguson, Jude Fitzpatrick, Rhys Ruka, Seamus Ryder (captain), Andrew Ridden, Sam French, Andrew Mobberley, Zane Green, Stu Kelly, Tom Connor, Harley Rodeka, Tom McBride, Michael Hogan, Sam Redwood.
Hawkes Bay (probable): Josh Hill, Sean Liddicoat, Kohei Matsumoto, Fin Milne, Harrison Nash, Cory Chettleburgh, Tom Biss, Zane Sole, Khair Jones, Godwin Addai, Jade Mesias, Sam Mason-Smith, Hamish Watson, Martin Canales, Fabien Kurimata, Jarrod Hastings.
