Melbourne gun Clayton Oliver's stunning return to form has put Hawthorn on high alert ahead of their round-two AFL clash, as another potential battle with Finn Maginnes looms large.
Hawks stopper Maginnes has tagged Oliver with some success in the past, notably irritating the Demons' camp with a single-minded defensive role last August.
He presents again as an option to shadow Oliver at the MCG on Saturday, having been named on the bench after filling the sub role in round one.
But stopping Oliver is just one of many issues Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has had to mull over this week as he chases an early-season scalp.
Also at the forefront of his mind is Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, who has toyed with the Hawks in recent seasons.
The imposing Gawn has polled Brownlow Medal votes in five of his last seven meetings with Hawthorn and was one of his team's best in their round-one win over the Western Bulldogs.
Gawn presents as a huge challenge for inexperienced Hawks ruckman Ned Reeves and off-season recruit Mabior Chol.
"Every opposition club is just hoping that he (Gawn) retires soon but it doesn't seem like it's getting any closer," Mitchell said this week.
"He's been the stand-out ruckman of the last decade and has made a significant contribution to their club and has been such a fantastic leader.
"You need to have a plan for him, you need to have a plan for Oliver, you need to have a plan for (Christian) Petracca and (Bayley) Fritsch and (Trent) Rivers and (Steven) May and (Jake) Lever.
"They're one of those teams that have got talent on every line.
"We know that Ned (Reeves) has got a big role on Gawn but by the same token he's got to be able to have an offensive threat himself."
Hawthorn have named an unchanged side after their round-one defeat to Essendon, with captain James Sicily cleared to play after having his one-match ban for kicking Andrew McGrath overturned at the tribunal.
Mitchell has again spoken to the fiery Sicily about crossing the line and expects his star defender, who has a long history of tribunal run-ins, to handle attention from niggling opponents better in future.
"James Sicily is one of our premier players and he helps us week in and week out, so we're really glad he's available," Mitchell said.
"We've put that (incident) behind us and we'll focus on what's in front of us now."
Sicily will be crucial in Hawthorn's plans to disrupt a Melbourne attack that kicked 16 goals and posted a triple-figure score in their win over the Bulldogs.
Versatile Demons tall Harrison Petty adds another dimension, returning after a foot injury that ruined his finish to the 2023 campaign and a toe concern that hampered his pre-season.
"Our forwards functioned really well (last week)," Dees coach Simon Goodwin said.
"Harrison's a high-quality player that we think is going to develop into a really great forward for us as a footy club.
"He's done a power of work over the last six weeks to get himself to this position."
Taj Woewodin has been dropped to make way for Petty.
