Amid talk that Swan Lance Franklin remains unhappy with comments made by former teammate Grant Birchall in last year's showpiece event and could target the defender, Clarkson said on Friday he expected the overall match to be a "fierce contest" at the MCG.

After an even opening 15 minutes in the grand final, the Hawks crunched their rivals, with Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery enduring a particularly bruising afternoon.

The Swans know that must change if they to post their sixth win of the season.

"Sydney came out really hard last year in the grand final, too - make no mistake about that. The first 15 minutes of the game was a torrid affair and it was two goals each," Clarkson said.

"It was a very, very physical game, as every game is when you play against Sydney. If you don't step up and match them in that area, you are going to find yourself wanting.

"We need to be really physical at the start of the game, no doubt they will be exactly the same. It will be a real scrap early in the contest. It's really who can maintain that endeavour for the whole of the four quarters. We know that it is going to be a fierce contest from go to whoa."

The Hawks' opposition analysis has focused more on the Swans of this season than on that showcase day when they secured back-to-back flags.

The Swans endured successive losses in rounds four (Fremantle) and five (Western Bulldogs) but have regained their groove against Melbourne and Geelong. Clarkson was impressed with how they handled the Cats at ANZ Stadium.

That win featured another strong performance from Hannebery, who is averaging 30 possessions a game, Josh Kennedy, who is averaging 29, while Luke Parker had 31 disposals, including five goals. Tom Mitchell has also added drive since rejoining the side in round five.

"We mainly look at more recent form. Both sides have changed a little bit since the grand final, circumstances change, game styles change," Clarkson said.

"We probably fell into the habit in 2008 (after the premiership) of thinking that everything was going to map out exactly the same way the following year but things change so swiftly in the game that you are better off looking at the last three or four weeks of form line rather than worrying about what's happened in past years."

The Hawks have made three changes, with premiership stars Jordan Lewis, Brian Lake and Isaac Smith returning.

Lake, a Norm Smith medallist, returns after hurting his knee against Port Adelaide in round four. His inclusion gives the Hawks more options to handle key forwards Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes, Sam Reid and Franklin.

"He's a guy who can match it with a Franklin or Tippett in their front half. That's obviously a formidable part of the Sydney game, their potency up forward and it's timely with Lake coming in. We've now got three guys that can play on those type of players up forward," Clarkson said.

"They've always been pretty potent for the last 10 or 12 years in their front half. Adam Goodes has been a significant part of that, too.

"He's a pretty dangerous player who can play a pretty handy role for them. And they get a lot of goals from their midfield as well, so we know the supply game in the middle of the ground is going to be really important."