HAWTHORN players will try anything to put former teammate Lance Franklin off his game in Saturday's Grand Final rematch, defender Ben Stratton says.

In last season's Grand Final the Hawks crowded Franklin's set shots, and that is one tactic likely to be repeated.

"Anything to put off Buddy and stifle his influence on the game," Stratton said, adding that banter might not work.

"I don't reckon he's too bad (at dealing with it), he gives it back as well. It's a bit of fun and I'm looking forward to it."

Franklin was one of the few Swans to perform in last year's decider, booting four goals, and he bagged four majors in the win over Geelong on Saturday night.

The Swans copped a battering – physically and on the scoreboard – in last year's humiliating 63-point loss, which burned with their players throughout the off-season.

Eight rounds into 2015 the teams meet again at the MCG, with Stratton expecting a fierce response from a Swans side seeking redemption.

"I reckon it will be a tough game with lots of tackles, lots of stoppages and we're looking forward to it. They will be pretty fired up as well," he said.

"I think going into most games we've got a massive focus on tackling and that inside pressure, so if we're able to win that it will go a long way to winning the game."

Hawthorn heads into the clash at an important point of its season after getting ahead of the win-loss ledger 4-3 with a 105-point belting of Melbourne last Saturday.

It was the third time the Hawks have ruthlessly responded to a loss – they have an average winning margin of 78 points the next week – but they are yet to string together consecutive victories.

"It was pleasing to bounce back like that in a fashion (against Melbourne), but we can't rely on losing to get that motivation. It's about that consistency going forward," Stratton said.

"I suppose the games we have lost have been a bit more of a grind. We've just got to prepare in a manner to look for that grind and don't think it's just going to happen."

Hawthorn's match committee faces some tough calls at the selection table squeezing vice-captain Jordan Lewis, wingman Isaac Smith and full-back Brian Lake into the side.

Lewis has served his two-game striking suspension, while Smith (illness) and Lake (knee) are near-certain starters.

Lake has missed a month of football, and the veteran faces a big job on one of the Swans' star forwards, Franklin or Kurt Tippett, on his return.

"He's had a good block of training and he'll probably slot straight back in," Stratton said.

"It would be nice to have him back, but having said that the guys that have stepped up – Schoey's (Ryan Schoenmakers) played that role and Angus Litherland as well – they've been playing good footy."

Saturday night's blockbuster will be Stratton's 100th game since he was recruited from East Perth with pick 46 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

He has become one of Hawthorn's most reliable backmen, playing taller or smaller than his 189cm frame when required, and proved a vital cog in the past two premiership triumphs.

"I was pretty lucky to come to Hawthorn and I definitely don't take it for granted playing in so many finals and at a successful club as well."