Hawthorn's defence ready for finals campaign: Clarkson

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says premiership assaults are built on strong defences, a view he hopes his backline will prove this month.

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says premiership assaults are built on strong defences, a view he hopes his backline will prove this month.

Clarkson yesterday credited the stability of the defence as one of the key factors in Hawthorn's charge to the minor premiership and its status as flag favourite.

While Hawthorn will be without defender Brent Guerra for tonight's first qualifying final against Collingwood, Clarkson said a settled defence was driving the team.

"Our back end has been a little bit more stable this year and that has assisted us a bit," he said.

"A couple of times we have had to take (Ryan) Schoenmakers forward for pinch hits but, by and large, the stability of our back end has really helped us throughout the course of the year.

"Most premiership assaults are built on really strong defences and we're hopeful that has assisted us enormously.

"That gives us an opportunity to negate the opposition, but also gives us the opportunity to go forward a little bit more often, and that has been the most significant part of our performance this year."

If Clarkson's expectations for Collingwood key forward Travis Cloke come to fruition, the strength of that defence will be crucial.

Cloke returned to form last weekend with five goals against Essendon and Clarkson said he expected to face the big man at his best tonight.

"Irrespective of what others have spoken about Trav, we know his talents," Clarkson said.

"We prepare for Travis Cloke at his best, not his worst. We know what we saw last week is what we usually expect from Travis, so we have got to prepare for that and make sure our strategies can combat that. It is going to be tough. He's a big unit."

Cloke aside, Clarkson did not want to comment on the form of the Magpies, who have lost two of their past three matches and their two clashes against Hawthorn this season.

"I will just talk on behalf of our form," he said.

"We have been really pleased with the last couple of games that we have had to play against finals-bound sides like Sydney, which was interstate, and then West Coast Eagles.

"We're happy with that preparation and we know that we've got another formidable opponent (tonight)."

Clarkson would not speculate on the possibility of Guerra (hamstring) returning if the team's finals run went deep into September.

"He's going to miss this week, that's all we're really concerned about at the moment," he said.

"If 'Goo' gets himself fit, that's great. But if he doesn't get there, then we'll find someone else to replace him."