However given how well the undefeated Demons are travelling, Clarkson concedes the Hawks are a "fair chance" of trailing at the major interval for the fifth time from as many games this year.

The average deficit Hawthorn has faced at halftime this season is 23 points but Clarkson puts that down to an efficiency issue and is satisfied his players have been switched on in each game.

"I think it's just an anomaly at this point in time," he told reporters on Friday.

"But we're coming up against a really good opponent - there's probably a fair chance we might be behind at halftime as well this week if we don't play well, so then the trend just grows again."

Hawthorn have been gallant in their past three losses and Clarkson expected games against last year's grand finallists Richmond and Geelong in that period to hold his young side in good stead.

But he suggested the Hawks would have to go another level in order to defeat Melbourne.

"Hopefully out of our losses there's still enough blue sky there for us to think that we can compete with these sides, but this is going to be another challenge again," Clarkson said.

"Were Richmond and Geelong absolutely playing on all eight cylinders when we played them? Early in the season it's hard to know.

"But what we do know is that Melbourne are playing close to their eight cylinders.

"It has been really pleasing that every game we've found ourselves in the contest at some point in the last half despite giving up margins early in the game.

"In terms of the spirit of the group and their competitiveness and their never-say-die attitude, they're fighting games right out to the end."

Hawk veteran Shaun Burgoyne will almost certainly return to the starting line-up after being an un-used medical sub against Fremantle last week.

And he is a good chance to be joined by Daniel Howe who appeared to suffer a serious AC joint injury against the Dockers last week but has made a surprisingly good recovery.

"We thought when it first happened it was going to be a six-to-eight-week AC joint injury," Clarkson said.

"It's not anywhere near as serious as we first thought ... we're optimistic (he will play) without it being a certainty."

Australian Associated Press