Such is the attitude in the face of forecast, with many giving the Kangaroos little chance of toppling the Hawks.
But with a lot to lose but far more to gain, don't include the players in that.
"There's no better challenge than against the Hawks, who probably no-one thinks we're going to go any good against anyway," Hale said.
"We get ourselves up for a game against them. In the final last year it was a great game for us, it was the first final we'd won for a long time.
"Earlier in the year, we probably had their measure and played pretty good footy for three quarters. In the end they kicked a few and just got in front of us.
"We're looking forward to it and, obviously coming off last week as well when we didn't perform so well, we're hoping to hit back."
Hale will be thrust into main ruck duties following Hamish McIntosh's knee injury against Fremantle, an opportunity he'll take with both hands.
"The role of the No. 1 ruckman is there now and I'm guessing I'll be first off the rack," he said. "Drew (Petrie) and I did it for three quarters on the weekend so I'm assuming that will be the same role we'll have this week.
"H (Hamish McIntosh) will make a big hole in the side so one of us will have to step up."
In contrast, the Hawks are likely to regain Simon Taylor, who played every game since the start of 2007 alongside fellow big man Robert Campbell, until that streak ended last week.
"Obviously every club tries to have two in that combination where they can split half and half," Hale said. "H and I and Drew have been doing it for most of the year, so we were pretty set, and with H going down that throws a bit into the mix.
"Todd Goldstein's in the twos as well [and he's] been going alright, so whether he comes in and gets his chance I'm not sure. They're a good combination but we've just got to work out what we can do."
Hale, in his sixth season at the top level, is starting to bridge the gap between great games and poor ones and, in recent weeks, has found form on the ball and in attack.
"As Dean (Laidley) says, if we can try and get that consistency week to week -- it's a hard thing in footy -- [but] that's what makes the good players good I suppose.
"Guys like Boomer (Brent Harvey) do the same thing week-in week-out."
