The Hawks have travelled up to Sydney, in preparation for their blockbuster Saturday night clash against the Swans.

The winner will secure a top-four berth and the all-important double chance in the finals, although Alastair Clarkson – as he does – downplayed the Hawks' 2018 flag chances as "pretty unrealistic".

"We've had some intriguing battles with them and it promises to be another one this week," Clarkson said.

"There's a bit more on the line in this one – Round 23 and finals are just on the doorstep.

"Both sides are a chance to get a double chance if they win this game, so there's plenty on it." 

Clarkson said in the aftermath of his side's eight-point loss to the Swans last time that Sydney's defenders got away with "blue murder".

He had cooled on that topic by the time it came up again on Friday. 

"They defend in a really sophisticated manner (and) they have for a long period of time," Clarkson said.

"They've been the best defence, in my view, for 10 years and they'll continue to defend that way and we've got to work out ways to try and get around it. 

"But they're a side that regularly keeps teams to only 10 goals and we've got to work out a ball-movement pattern that allows us to get through it tomorrow night."

Watch Clarkson's full press conference here.