HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson admits several hard-luck stories will emerge from the club's last selection meeting of the year, but he has vowed to let his head and not his heart rule when choosing the Grand Final line-up.

Simon Taylor and Tom Murphy have both been significant contributors this season, having played 18 games each, but were absent from the 22 that ran out against St Kilda on Saturday night.

Those two, along with Cameron Stokes, Jarryd Morton, Tim Clarke, Travis Tuck and Tim Boyle, who have all played six or more matches for the Hawks this year, face a tough task to break back into the side, but Clarkson said all would be considered.

"We've made tough decisions right throughout our journey in the last four years, and we'll make more tough decisions if need be to put together the best side that we think can topple the Cats," Clarkson said.

"It's going to be a big assignment, we know, but one that we're excited about and one that we also think we can overcome if we come with our best game.

"We've got a squad of 28 to 30 players, and we'll have a look at the Geelong side and the best manner in which we think we can go about trying to defeat them.

"Any one of our 28 players will be in the calculations to be selected, but obviously there's a fair chance the majority of the 22 that represented the club tonight are going to be running out next Saturday against the Cats."

Clarkson was suitably impressed with the even contribution he received during the 54-point demolition of the Saints and reported his side had emerged sore, but unscathed from the bruising encounter.

"I don't think there will be anyone who will miss the game next week through injury," he said.

"I reckon there were 22 sore [players in] brown and gold jumpers and 22 sore [players in] red, white and black jumpers, but the humiliation of defeat is a lot greater than the pain of a couple of knocks and twists and that sort of stuff.

"We were keen to get through tonight. We thought we deserved the opportunity to play in a Grand Final, we've worked really hard as a football club."