HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson expects nothing less than another hostile showdown against North Melbourne on Saturday, in a contest that could have major ramifications for top eight spots.
The Hawks and Roos have a long history of fiery clashes, most recently an Etihad Stadium encounter which erupted under the roof in round 13.
North Melbourne, then on top of the ladder, tried to rattle the Hawks with physicality but failed to get the job done in front of goal in a nine-point loss.
The teams' fortunes have travelled vastly different paths since, with the Hawks now defending their one-game buffer on top of the ladder and North battling to hang on to a finals berth.
With so much at stake, the Hawks are gearing up for North to throw everything at them at the MCG.
"They're always physical encounters, particularly the top-eight teams when they come up against each other there's a lot of competitiveness, there's good sides and that's what you expect," Clarkson said on Friday.
"I wouldn’t imagine it's going to be any different tomorrow."
With three rounds remaining, Hawthorn is in complete control of its own destiny.
If the Hawks keep winning, home ground advantage and the easiest route to the Grand Final is theirs, but a loss to North this weekend could see the three-time defending premiers slip to fifth.
"All we can control is us winning games of footy and we've done that pretty well for the majority of games this year and that's why we're sitting on top of the ladder," Clarkson said.
"Everything's in our control in terms of the next three games and if we play to the standards we've set ourselves then it doesn't matter what's behind us."
After an inaccurate performance in an upset loss to Melbourne last round, the Hawks are setting themselves to respond.
Clarkson's men haven't lost consecutive games since early 2014 or back-to-back games at the MCG since 2010.
The Hawks have been bolstered by the availability of stars James Frawley (shoulder), Paul Puopolo (hip) and Liam Shiels (hamstring) for the North clash, while speedster Billy Hartung returns from a VFL stint and 191cm draftee Ryan Burton will debut.
Burton, 19, has overcome a horrific broken leg in 2014 and had more surgery this year, and gets his chance after booting three goals in the VFL last weekend.
He was Hawthorn's first pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft at 19th overall, can play either end of the ground and has drawn comparisons to star teammate Jack Gunston.
"He's missed a fair bulk of the season but he's played and trained really strongly the past six or eight weeks and gets his chance tomorrow," Clarkson said.
"It's our seventh debutant this year, which is great for the future of our footy club, and we're expecting him to be a really good player for us in the future."
