EXPERIENCED Hawk Shaun Burgoyne says the Hawks want to continue to play hard, tough football.

The Hawks are preparing to face the Brisbane Lions in Tasmania this Saturday without captain Luke Hodge, who will serve a two-match suspension for his bump on Chad Wingard during Friday night's loss to Port Adelaide. 

It's Hodge's second indiscretion this season, after he was suspended for three weeks in round five.

But Burgoyne, who said the break before finals could actually be good for the 31-year-old, said the Hawks still wouldn't change their hard-nosed style.

"That's how we want to play our footy, we want to play close to the line but not overstep it," he said. 

"He's got to take the two weeks now and we get to freshen him up a bit as well, which is good.

"You never want anyone suspended, especially your captain, but he's going to take those two weeks and freshen up and hopefully that will be a positive for the team and it will give someone else an opportunity to come and play."

The Hawks will also enter this week's match without Brendon Bolton, who departs the club on Friday after being appointed as Carlton's new senior coach yesterday. The Hawks' Head of Development Academy Damian Carroll will step into the forward line coaching role.

Burgoyne said the Hawks would cope with Bolton's absence in the final two rounds, and beyond into the finals.

"He obviously brings something different to the table as all coaches do, but I think we showed last year when Clarko stepped out and Bolts stepped in, we're able to cover those holes, even when it's a senior coach," Burgoyne said.

"Throughout the year we've had different coaches take different meetings and different role.

"It won't be something new. We went through the exact same thing last year.

"It's just slightly different messaging from someone who thinks a bit differently, talks a bit differently, and it will probably add something new to the group.

"We just have to adapt and move on, and just be happy he's been given a senior role."