It's not often, if ever, you'd find a team that finished on top of the ladder, has had a week off and is hosting a preliminary final go into that game an underdog. But that's Fremantle's lot on Friday night.

Have the Dockers done anything wrong? Not really. The bottom line is winning, and this season they've done more of it than anyone else. It's more about the way they've been winning, and the capabilities of their opponent.

Hawthorn, after their dismantling of Adelaide on Friday night, remain equal flag favourite, and with good reason.

Any questions that were raised about the Hawks after their qualifying final loss were answered with interest, most of the poorer players in that game among their best against the Crows. They'll probably have Jack Gunston back, too.

That said, Fremantle, even without the doubtful key defender Luke McPharlin, are settled, have Hayden Ballantyne back in the mix, and have made Domain Stadium a fortress in recent years.

HISTORY LESSON: Fremantle and Hawthorn have met only once this season, at Aurora Stadium in Launceston in round 15, with the Dockers thumped by 72 points, their heaviest loss in nearly 100 games under Ross Lyon's coaching.

Freo went to Tasmania having won 12 of 13 games, but unimpressive in their most recent victories, and were immediately on the back foot against the Hawks, held to just one goal for the first half as Hawthorn kicked seven.

The Hawks were dominant midfield through Sam Mitchell, had a spread of 10 goalkickers with Luke Breust and Luke Hodge sharing seven, and didn't give the Dockers a look-in defensively, Josh Gibson and Grant Birchall particularly impressive on the rebound.

The massive win continued Hawthorn's domination of Fremantle. The Hawks have won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two teams, including their 15-point win in the 2013 grand final.

X-FACTOR: Scoring power continues to be an issue for Fremantle, but two players in particular have the capacity to do something about it, small forward pair Michael Walters and Hayden Ballantyne.

Walters was at his explosive best in last week's qualifying final win over Sydney, booting two early goals and finishing with three. Ballantyne also booted three in a very impressive return from a two-month layoff with a pectoral injury.

For Hawthorn, Cyril Rioli was quiet against Adelaide on Friday night, but his defensive pressure, chasing and tackling is just as important to the Hawks, and an offensive burst can turn a game in a matter of minutes.

TACTICS: Fremantle will have paid very close attention to local rival West Coast's qualifying final win over Hawthorn.

The Eagles' pressure on the Hawks was relentless, and forced them into uncharacteristic skill errors, turnovers and fumbles. West Coast's pressure also saw Hawthorn's normally watertight defence lose its shape, Josh Gibson unable to play with the freedom he craves and Brian Lake losing his duel with Eagle spearhead Josh Kennedy.

To that end, Freo are well placed. Their A-grade midfield contingent of Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Michael Barlow and Lachie Neale are strong and skilled in equal measures.

It's a major reason they are so consistently on top in the contested possession count, and indeed that is the one area they hold a significant statistical edge over Hawthorn, the Dockers ranked second on the differentials compared to the Hawks' eighth. Equally significantly, it's Hawthorn's conqueror of last week that stands No.1 on those rankings.

But if the Hawks can break the Fremantle shackles, look out. Hawthorn remain lethal ball users, ranked No.1 for disposal efficiency, and no team in the competition generates as many inside-50 scoring opportunities.

The Hawks' pressure, as demonstrated against Adelaide, is also a major source of scoreboard returns. Alastair Clarkson's team stands a clear No.1 in the AFL this season for scores from turnovers.

PREDICTION: Fremantle should be fresh, have close to their best line-up on the park and are playing at home. All good reasons the Dockers are a good chance to reach a second grand final. But Hawthorn clicked back into gear in a big way in their semi-final win, and have demonstrated time and again they know how to break the Dockers' defensive shackles. Hawthorn by 18 points.