JOEL Selwood says the Geelong players will have confidence in Tom Hawkins if he lines up against Port Adelaide on Friday night.
Hawkins has a disc issue in his back, which prevented him from playing in the Cats' 15-point qualifying final loss to Fremantle on Saturday at Simonds Stadium.
He has struggled with it on and off this season, with the complaint limiting his mobility and deeming him a day-to-day prospect.
Selwood said the Cats had faith the burly forward could perform if he lined up against the Power in the MCG semi-final.
"We know what's bugging him at the moment and when he goes out there, we expect him to do a job and he's been doing that for us," Selwood said at the AFLPA most valuable player awards on Tuesday night.
"Last week during the week, he just wasn't right and put his hand up and said he couldn't do it.
"We'll know later in the week how he's travelling."
Selwood also said he believed Andrew Mackie (ankle), Josh Caddy (ankle), Harry Taylor (shoulder) and Steven Motlop (neck) would be fine to play.
As for assessing the surprise loss to the Dockers at their home fortress, Selwood said the Cats simply had to be tougher – for longer – against the tenacious Power.
"We played poorly at stages … we just can't do that this weekend," he said.
"We were poor for a long part of the game. It was something we did do a little throughout the year but we'll make sure we get it right.
"You've got to be harder for longer. I think we already knew that but it just reassured it."
Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands was a powerhouse against the Cats last Saturday, with him and Zac Clarke the main instigators in the lopsided hit-out count of 53 to 16.
The Cats also lost the clearances, 43 to 22.
Selwood said while the form of Power ruckman Matthew Lobbe couldn't be denied, he expected his team to post a better performance in this final.
"I think we'll be better around that area this weekend," he said.
"We don't have a monster we're rucking against.
"Lobbe has been extremely impressive in the last month, especially, but we really back in our young guys to do the job and we've got to make sure we work harder underneath them."
Selwood also declined to elaborate on what was said in an exchange between him and Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley after Saturday's game.
The two engaged directly after the siren on the field after Crowley had bantered with Steve Johnson following a heated head-to-head between the two.
"I don't think there needs to be much said. We play a game, we're all competitive and that's all it was," Selwood said.
"They got the win at the end of the day and that's where we left it."
