The Dunedin-based team trails the seventh-placed Wellington Phoenix by a point, but will leapfrog the North Island side if it can pick up three points tomorrow and the Phoenix loses to Auckland City.
But picking up three points is something the team has managed just once in eight games this season.
Southern United has lost five straight games since a 2-1 loss to WaiBOP United on December 6. It has conceded 15 goals and scored just four during the ugly stretch.
"We are still thinking positive,'' coach Mike Fridge said.
"If we can try and get the first goal and then I think we will get a massive boost. We seem to be slow out of the gates each time and we're still conceding cheap goals.''
Southern United has enjoyed an extended break since a 3-0 loss to WaiBOP United in Hamilton last Thursday night.
That was its second away match in five days, and Fridge was forced to field a depleted team due to injury and work commitments.
Fridge welcomes back goalkeeper Tom Batty and midfielder Tom Connor tomorrow.
Both missed the last match due to work commitments.
Youth goalkeeper Josh Dijkstra made his senior debut last Thursday in Hamilton, but drops out of the squad with Batty's return.
Zane Green is the backup goalkeeper.
Striker Sam French, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, has been named to play Hawkes Bay.
His return could not have come at a better time, as fellow striker Josh Stewart is expected to miss at least two weeks with an ankle injury.
Youth player Lewis Jackson will provide cover up front, but Fridge admitted his team would be "very light'' up front if French pulled up lame before tomorrow's match.
Southern United was beaten 3-0 by Hawkes Bay in Napier when they met in the second match of the ASB Premiership in November.
The visitors are third on the competition ladder with four wins, three draws and a loss.
"They are going well at the moment,'' Fridge said.
"They will come down with a lot of confidence. I'm sure they will be expecting the the three points.''
But Fridge pointed out the team has been leaking a few goals, including against the Wellington Phoenix when the sides drew 5-5 last month.
Tomorrow's match is Southern United's first home game under the roof since December 6.
Including a home game against Canterbury United in Invercargill, it has played its last four games on the road.
With six games left in the regular season, Fridge said the next four games were vital if his side is to move up the standings - particularly the away matches against Waitakere United next weekend and Wellington Phoenix on February 13.
Sixth-placed Waitakere suffered a 5-0 drubbing by WaiBOP United on Thursday night and has just nine competition points from as many games.
Southern v Hawkes Bay
FB Stadium, tomorrow, noon
Southern United: Tom Batty, Ross Howard, Shawn O'Brien, Jude Fitzpatrick, Jack Caunter, Seamus Ryder (captain), Andrew Ridden, Sam French, Lewis Jackson, Zane Green, Stuart Kelly, Tom Connor, Harley Rodeka, Michael Hogan, Regan Coldicott, Morgan Day.
Hawkes Bay United (probable): Josh Hill, Sean Liddicoat, Kohei Matsumoto, Fin Milne, Harrison Nash, Cory Chettleburgh, Thomas Biss, Zane Sole, Khair Jones, Godwin Addai, Sam Mason-Smith, Hamish Watson, Martin Canales, Birhanu Taye, Fabien Kurimata, Jarrod Hastings.
