MOST AFL coaches would attempt to play down a fixture of this magnitude, but Sam Mitchell isn't one of them.

Ahead of Hawthorn's high-stakes clash with Collingwood - a potential season-defining encounter for both sides as the finals race heats up - Mitchell isn't shying away from the obvious.

"These games are huge for us," he said.

"It's 12th versus 13th and it doesn't sound as good when you say it like that.

"But when you look at the ladder and how close it is, we know that this is a massive game and we're really looking forward to it."

The Magpies climbed the premiership mountain last year and have been fighting against a tide of injuries to keep their flag defence alive.

The regenerating Hawks are trying to prove they belong on the big stage, and get the chance to do so at the MCG on Saturday.

The winner could finish the round inside the top eight, with another five home and away matches left to play.

"You need to be able to perform in big games and not every game is built the same, is it? This game is worth more than one," Mitchell said.

"It's going to be a big crowd for an important game for our season and we know that this is a great development chance for us.

"But more importantly than that right now, it's a great performance chance for us.

"Can we perform against a team mostly built on premiership players on a huge stage?"

Hawthorn has regained energetic forward Jack Ginnivan for a clash with his former club and recalled Finn Maginness for a likely tagging role on Nick or Josh Daicos, while Collingwood has been bolstered by the return of key-position stars Dan McStay and Jeremy Howe from injuries.

"They're going to get a couple back this week and we know that their best - for periods of every game that they've played - has been as good as anyone's," Mitchell said.

"Our job is to prevent them playing at their best and trying to produce some of ours.

"If we can do that, then I think we're much closer to (competing with) these best sides than we have been in the past."

Pies coach Craig McRae, who worked alongside Mitchell as assistants to then-Hawks boss Alastair Clarkson in 2021, wasn't fussed about his counterpart building up Saturday's clash.

"If you want to try to motivate yourself more by saying it's a final - go for it," McRae said.

"But we're going to be heavily motivated for round 19 and we need to bring our best.

"This week it's Hawthorn and we're going to really hit them between the eyes with our best."