GEELONG spearhead Tom Hawkins hopes his new-found confidence can help turn around his recent lacklustre finals record, starting against Melbourne on Friday night.
After averaging four goals a game since round 17, including a bag of seven the last time the Cats met the Demons, Hawkins believes he's in the midst of his most consistent season.
Now on the eve of his 20th final in 10 seasons, the 30-year-old insists it's time to put his impressive form into practice in the finals.
"I'd say my confidence in what I can do out on the ground is probably a little bit higher than it has been the last couple of years," Hawkins said on Wednesday.
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"(I) take a bit of confidence in that but I suppose the thing that excites me and I'm most happy about is just the energy that finals brings."
"It sort of counts for nothing if you go out and play poorly on Friday night."
Since booting five goals in a losing semi-final to North Melbourne in 2014, Hawkins has managed just six goals from five finals encounters.
"I certainly haven't been at my best," Hawkins said of his recent September performances.
"You ask players that have played in finals series and I think as an individual you want to have team success and you want play well to help the team.
"I'd love to be able to be at my best to help our team win and keep winning.
"The past (finals) probably haven't been that good. I keep going back to the fact there's a new challenge for me and our team on Friday night."
Hawkins was held goalless by Demon Oscar McDonald in round one as the Cats held on to claim a nailbiter courtesy of a late Max Gawn miss.
McDonald again headed Hawkins' way in round 18, the Cats forward managing three goals to three-quarter time break before Hawkins exploded with four majors in the final term.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin made a late shift, with Sam Frost picking up Hawkins in the final term, but it was all too late as the Cats came from 29 points behind to win.
While Frost said he expects to head Hawkins' way, Hawkins said he was preparing for both scenarios.
"I'm not exactly sure," Hawkins said.
"I had Oscar McDonald down here in Geelong and played on him earlier in the season at the 'G.
"I had a little bit of Frost late (in Geelong), but I expect to probably get a little bit of both come Friday night.
"I had a really poor game and Oscar played really well in round one, I had no influence in the game.
"We attacked the game and I was involved a bit down here; it's sort of funny how it's worked out through the year."
Despite the round one win over the Demons at the MCG, the Cats' are 2-5 at the home of football this season.
"It's not something we're worried about, we haven't talked at all about our record," Hawkins said. "It's just about us and what we do when we're playing well."
Ahead of the Cats' main session on Wednesday, Hawkins said he expected a similar forward set-up to the side that belted Gold Coast by 102 points in round 23.
Scott Selwood is set to spend more time in attack, with rookie revelation Jack Henry alongside Hawkins and Menzel as marking options.
Hawkins' finals record
19 matches (10-9), 27 goals
Premierships: 2009, 2011
0 goals: 4 games
1 goal: 7 games
2 goals: 6 games
3 goals: 1 game
4 goals: Nil
5 goals: 1 game
