While the Tigers' five straight wins leaves them a mathematical chance to play finals, they're not focusing on that possibility ... just yet.
After accepting they didn't cope with injuries to key players early in the season, Hardwick said they now had to ensure they maintained their recent form.
"We've got to beat some good sides coming home and the season's not finished for us. We've just got to make sure we win as many games as we can and more importantly play a brand of footy our fans, supporters and members are proud of," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"Our players have to lead from the front in that area and they've started to make some real in-roads with that but we've got to make sure we continue to deliver on the big stage."
Since round 15, the Tigers have beaten St Kilda, the Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Greater Western Sydney, with only the Power now in the top eight.
However, Hardwick said the team's key performance indicators showed they were playing well and the wins hadn't just come because of their opposition.
"I think our numbers suggest otherwise. Wins are the by-product of a process and we look at the process and our process is fine at the moment," he said.
"A lot of our KPI indicators that a lot of clubs go by are right up there.
"All we can do is measure those."
Focusing on Friday night's clash with Essendon took priority over their resuscitated finals hope this week, with Hardwick conceding a lot had to go right for them to make up the two games that currently keeps them out of the eight.
He said they would go into the game confident of putting in a better effort than they did when they lost to the Bombers by 50 points earlier in the season.
"We're probably in a lot better form than we were earlier in the year in regards to this game and they're a really good side," he said.
"They handled themselves pretty well against Sydney, which is a tough ask at the best of times let alone up at the SCG.
"It's going to be a really tough game, they're very good clearance wise, getting the ball outside to their numbers, and if they get the game on their terms they're capable of hurting us.
"We've just got to make sure defensively we're attuned and get the game based in a manner we'd like."
Hardwick said the Bombers had enough depth to cover the loss of forward Patrick Ambrose and Jake Carlisle if he didn't come up from a sore leg.
Defender Steven Morris is a chance to return from a hand injury while midfielder Dan Jackson is likely to miss another week.
