Four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson says the whole competition is starting to take notice of the footy being played by the GIANTS under his former protégé Leon Cameron.
The Hawks have won their last four games after a round one loss to Geelong, but have had to fight hard to get over the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Adelaide over the past three weeks.
Clarkson said winning those close games was a positive for his team but that playing 2-3 good quarters of footy won't be enough against GWS.
The GIANTS beat Hawthorn by 10-points in the corresponding fixture last season, before the visitors went on to claim a third successive flag, and Clarkson warned that GWS can repeat that upset result if given the chance.
"They played a great brand of footy (in that game) and I think they've improved significantly since that time too, so we're going to have our work cut out," he said.
"We need play somewhere near our very best which we haven't been able to produce so often this year.
"Across the board we haven't got enough of our players making significant enough contributions, so that’s first and foremost.
"We've been allowing sides to kick too many goals and we haven't kicked enough ourselves, so on both sides of the ball we've got areas of concern we need to focus on.
"We're up for the challenge we know it's going to be a significant battle.
"We know that we need to play a hell of a lot better, if we produce anything like we've done over the last 3-4 weeks I don't think it's going to get it done for us."
Both coaches placed little value on the result of last year's game when star GWS forward Jeremy Cameron booted seven goals and co-captain Callan Ward got the three Brownlow votes.
Clarkson said revenge or payback wasn't even a factor for his players when preparing for the GIANTS this week.
"It's more about our current form and our current position," he said.
"Even though that looks alright with our win-loss (ratio) it doesn't look ok in terms of us knowing what we're capable of and what level we're playing at the present time.
"That’s more the driving catalyst for us at the minute rather than looking back to last year.
"It's in our minds, but for that to be the driving force for trying to secure a victory is probably a little bit off the mark."
Cameron spent three years under Clarkson as an assistant coach and will take charge of the GIANTS for the 50th time in Saturday's twilight match.
The pair revealed that they still keep in touch when they can to talk about the issues of the game.
Clarkson admitted he always knew Cameron was destined to be a senior coach in the AFL, and joked that he's just glad he did it elsewhere.
"Yeah I was just worried he was going to take my chair," Clarkson said.
The GIANTS take on the three-time reigning premiers Hawthorn in their first game at Spotless Stadium for the year on Saturday April 30 at 4.35pm. Click here to get your tickets now.
