The Hawks, who finished third at the end of the home and away season, will enter their preliminary final against minor premier Collingwood on Friday night as underdogs.
But after two disappointing years for just one final (a loss to Fremantle in 2010) following the 2008 premiership triumph, the hard-nut midfielder knows that Grand Final opportunities must be grasped when within reach.
"We try not to talk about 2008 much," Lewis said at Waverley Park on Tuesday.
"We try and talk about the disappointing years of 2009, 2010 where we really did waste our opportunity.
"We probably didn't deserve to be in the finals last year, and we think we deserve our spot this year.
"It's do or die this Friday night: if we lose, we're out and our season's over, and we haven't really achieved what we wanted to achieve.
"So we'll be putting everything on the line."
Earlier on Tuesday the Hawks trained without star forward Lance Franklin who, after overcoming a hyper-extended knee to boot four goals against the Sydney Swans last week, missed Monday night's All Australian awards with gastro.
Lewis said there was no doubt over the Coleman medallist's availability for the Magpies clash.
"He didn't go out on the track today, I think it was a bit of a low-key day for 'Bud'," Lewis said.
"But they're just managing that to make sure he's right for Friday.
"I think he's made friends with the toilet bowl over the last couple of days, but he's fine and there's no doubt that he'll play this week."
Many teams this season have had trouble coping with the depth of Collingwood's midfield, which contains 2011 All Australians Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas and Dane Swan, plus a swag of other potentially damaging players.
But Lewis was confident that the Hawks' onball division would be up to the task.
"I think our midfield bats pretty deep as well," he said.
"We match up pretty well against them, and as you saw on Friday night, we had guys like Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril [Rioli], guys who haven't been through there for the most part of the year, come in and do really well.
"So we've got the depth as well."
Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawks news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan
