HAWTHORN isn't underestimating West Coast's threat or the intimidation factor of a hostile crowd ahead of Friday night's blockbuster, star forward Cyril Rioli says.
Defending their one-game buffer on top of the ladder, the Hawks face a tricky trip west against a resurgent Eagles side still with a sniff of a top-four spot.
"They're definitely a big threat, especially playing over there on their home deck. It's going to be a pretty hostile environment and we've got to be on edge," Rioli said on Tuesday.
"We're one game clear on top and we need to continue our form and keep winning.
"(To take the crowd out of it) when we kick a goal make sure we're celebrating, make sure we're getting around each other and getting each other up.
"Like it is always over there it's going to be loud, but we're prepared for it."
West Coast ambushed the Hawks by 32 points in a qualifying final at home last season, squeezing Alastair Clarkson's side on the narrow and long Domain Stadium.
Hawthorn only scored 64 points, but went back to Perth two weeks later and defeated Fremantle before turning the tables on the Eagles in the Grand Final.
The Hawks have brought in the boundaries at their Waverley training base this week to replicate Domain Stadium – as they did before last season's preliminary final.
"I think it does (help). We don't get to play on those grounds often, so any narrow grounds or different grounds that we're coming up to play on we normally mark out their ovals," he said.
"I think it helps us a bit in terms of moving the ball.
"The crowd's one thing, but the way the ground is … they're used to playing and training on that ground, so today we just get a feel of what their ground's like."
Nic Naitanui's last-gasp goal saved the Eagles' top-four hopes against Greater Western Sydney and the dynamic ruckman looms as a huge obstacle for Hawks big men Ben McEvoy and Jonathon Ceglar.
"I only caught the last couple of minutes of the game and actually was pretty nervous watching that game," Rioli said.
"He does some freakish things and we'll be doing everything we can to stop (him)."
Rioli was sporting a bandaged left hand on Tuesday from a knock in the game against Melbourne two weeks ago, although he couldn't recall how he hurt it.
"It's fine, I got through on the weekend all right, so there's no dramas," he said.
"It just pulled up a bit sore and just needed a bit of tape on my thumb."
Rioli confirmed the Hawks will send an advance party of several players to Perth a day earlier than usual, as they did last season, although the Norm Smith medallist will travel with the rest of the team on Thursday.
