HAWTHORN may have to confront the Kennett curse one week earlier than desired.
Saturday's two finals boilovers have left Geelong on track to meet the Hawks in the first preliminary final at the MCG on Friday, September 20.
Geelong boasts an 11-match winning streak against Hawthorn stretching back to the 2008 Grand Final.
In the wake of that premiership victory, then-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett claimed Geelong lacked the mental drive to defeat the Hawks.
However, the preliminary final rematch is no certainty.
The Cats, who lost Saturday afternoon's qualifying final on home turf to Fremantle, will host Port Adelaide in the second semi-final at the MCG next Friday night.
The Power will be no walkovers, as they demonstrated by storming over Collingwood in Saturday night's elimination final at the MCG.
Next week's first semi-final will be contested between the Sydney Swans and the winner of Richmond and Carlton at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
The Tigers and Blues clash in Sunday's elimination final at the MCG.
In week three, Fremantle will host the other preliminary final at Patersons Stadium on the Saturday night.
The Dockers' opponents will be the Swans, Tigers or Blues.
The fixture means the Hawks, as minor premiers, will receive the maximum seven-day break should they win through to the Grand Final.
Last season Hawthorn also finished on top at the end of the home and away season, but was handed a Saturday twilight preliminary final due to a scheduling clash with the NRL at ANZ Stadium.
It meant the Swans received a longer break heading into the 2012 premiership decider, having played their preliminary final on the Friday night.
