PERHAPS it was reverse psychology, but Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson spent much of his game-eve press conference talking up the undefeated Western Bulldogs, the Hawks' hot opponent in Sunday's blockbuster at Etihad Stadium.

The promising Dogs are the league leaders and the talk of the football world after belting both Fremantle and St Kilda, and it seemed Clarkson was also quite taken with their development under his former assistant Luke Beveridge.

"They've been really impressive. They sit on top of the ladder for a pretty good reason – they've played really good footy in the first two rounds," Clarkson said at the Ricoh Centre on Saturday morning.

"But that probably continues on from a trend last year – they've played some good footy for 12 months.

"There's no surprises there, they're a good side, they've got some very, very good players and they play to a particular brand and structure and system that is very powerful at the minute, and we've got to work out a way to try and break that down somehow.

"It's a great test for us to see where we're at as a footy club in terms of 2016. The Bulldogs are up and flying and they're playing on their home deck."

On that Docklands "home deck", the Dogs have established an imposing record, winning their past 11 games by an average of 50 points at Etihad Stadium, but Clarkson doesn't expect it to play a big factor as many suggest given the Hawks themselves have also been dominant there.

"The record of the Bulldogs is outstanding at that ground and that's a significant challenge for us," he said. "They're very comfortable at that ground (and we need to) try to break down the way that they play and their confidence levels.

"But having said that, we've won 13 of (our past) 15 at Etihad too, so it's not like we can't play the oval – we know we play the oval particularly well too."

A key to the Dogs' success has been the form of dashing defenders Jason Johannisen, skipper Robert Murphy, Shane Biggs and Matthew Boyd. Clarkson said the Hawks could restrict those rebounders by at least sharing the midfield honours.

"Their rebound's been strong because they've got it in their forward line in the first instance," he said.

"It's the same with every game, but that battle in the middle of the ground is going to be pivotal. If they get control of the ball from the middle of the ground and get a lot of centre-bounce clearances and stoppage clearances, they're going to have the game on their terms.

"If we can at least break even or get in control in that area of the ground, then we give ourselves a great chance of winning the game. But certainly if it's the other way, then the result will be pretty similar to what happened with Fremantle (in round one) and St Kilda last week … and they'll have a field day (across half-back)."

The inclusion of triple premiership player Liam Shiels for his first game of the season after overcoming a fractured wrist would add quality and flexibility to the Hawks' running crew, Clarkson said.

"He's been really unheralded … (and) slipped under the radar a bit in terms of his importance to our side. We're delighted that he's been able to return for this week's game and I think we're going to need him," he said.

Clarkson wants his players to replicate the intensity they showed in their 46-point win over West Coast in last week's Grand Final rematch at the MCG.

"We've got a pretty good history of being able to bring that (intensity) on most occasions. That was the disappointment from the Geelong game (in round one), we just didn't have that real steely resolve to compete for the full four quarters," he said.

"That's what we were really pleased with to a man last week against West Coast. If we can bring that type of attitude and fight, we know we're going to be right in the contest, but if we can't the Dogs are just too potent with the ball to give them first use of it and open space."