STAR Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson has dismissed concerns about the Hawks' form leading into finals as "irrelevant" and backed the side's experienced campaigners to deliver when it counts in September.

The three-time defending premiers haven't appeared entirely convincing in some critics' eyes over the past month, losing to Melbourne and West Coast before escaping with a last-gasp one-point win over Collingwood in round 23 to cement a top-four spot. 

But one crucial factor the Hawks have on their side is knowing what it takes to win flags and Gibson believes his side is perfectly positioned for another tilt. 

"There are people talking about our form, but that's irrelevant," Gibson said. 

"We finished top four, we're playing Geelong, we're going out to hunt them this week. 

"It's what we're here for, finals footy, so it's a new season. 

"I think it's positive being in this situation.

"We've played a lot of finals footy, we know what to expect Friday night.

"We know it's going to be a tough game, you've got two great sides that are going to be going pretty hard at one another. 

"Being in that position before helps, but it doesn't count for everything." 

The Hawks are set to regain important defender Ben Stratton (pec) and No.1 ruckman Ben McEvoy (back/glute) for the qualifying final, with both players training on Tuesday. 

"We missed Stratt's experience (in defence), he's played a lot of footy and when you're a back six continuity's a big thing," Gibson said. 

"But in saying that, Burto's (Ryan Burton) come in and been really good. 

"I thought he was impressive in the last game and for a young guy he read the ball really well and was another tall, which was pleasing."

Stratton's aerial ability is an underrated facet of the Hawks' defence and the 27-year-old should offer a helping hand to James Frawley as he battles Geelong powerhouse Tom Hawkins. 

"He's (Hawkins) a super-talented forward and as a back six it's going to be a big job for us to (curb) him and their other forwards down there - you can't put all your focus into him," Gibson said. 

"He's been kicking goals of late and it's a challenge that we look forward to."

Hawkins has previously been a thorn in the Hawks' side during one of the great modern-day rivalries. 

After upsetting Geelong in the 2008 Grand Final, Hawthorn infamously lost the next 11-straight clashes during the 'Kennett Curse' era. 

But the Hawks snapped the curse in an epic five-point 2013 preliminary final and have won five of the past seven meetings.

"I don't know if it's so much of a rivalry anymore," Gibson said.

"There were some times there we weren't playing the best footy and they were getting the better of us and we've turned that around, but we can't expect that it's going to be easy on Friday night. 

"They're going to come pretty hard at us and we'll be going just as hard as them."

If they aren't already, the Hawks could indisputably become the greatest team of the modern era by winning a record-equalling fourth-straight flag. 

However, Gibson denied history was motivating Alastair Clarkson's side. 

"Winning Grand Finals is a motivating factor, no matter whether it's two, three, one, four-in-a-row," he said. 

"Every year you want to win them and that's what this finals campaign is about. 

"We've worked so hard during the year to get to this spot and once you've tasted premiership success you want to achieve that every year."