HAWTHORN won't beat its nemesis Geelong by only shutting down the Cats' stars on Saturday night, Hawks midfielder Sam Mitchell says.
The Cats have won 13 of the past 15 meetings between the arch-rivals and are set to welcome back Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel for the MCG blockbuster.
However, Steve Johnson – who ran riot with 34 possessions and three goals last time against the Hawks - has been all but ruled out with a foot injury.
But regardless of who plays for the Cats, Mitchell said Geelong's system would be Hawthorn's biggest threat.
"That's probably what makes Geelong a very good side … you shut down one [and] there's always someone else that can bob up," he told AFL.com.au.
"So we just have to shut down their whole system rather than just individual players.
"They've been a very good side for a very long time; very consistent.
"When someone gets injured or someone retires they always have a replacement who is a very strong player and comes in and plays their role."
The Hawks snapped their 11-game losing streak to Geelong in last year's preliminary final but succumbed to the Cats by 19 points in round five.
The stakes have risen this Saturday night with a top-two spot on the line.
The great rivals are likely to meet again in September, although Mitchell doubted any psychological edge for finals could be gained by winning in round 22.
"We want to win every game we play. I'm not too sure about the psychology of it, I don't think any of that matters too much," the 2008 premiership captain said.
"I think you just go out and try to play. If we play the Cats again later on then so be it.
"I don't think this game will have too much influence either way other than getting a little bit of background information on the team you're playing."
After recovering from a mid-season hamstring tendon injury, Mitchell said he's feeling good ahead of the Hawks' fifth-straight finals series.
The 256-gamer, who turns 32 in October, has shown few signs of slowing down this season and still has another year to run on his contract.
"I'm still enjoying the game and I'll just keep playing until I'm not anymore I suppose," Mitchell said.
"I haven't thought about it too much."
