FEARS of a downpour during Friday night's qualifying final between Geelong and Hawthorn have been slightly eased back, but spectators are still being advised to take along their wet weather gear to the MCG.

Indications early in the week suggested that the contest could be drenched with the possibility of hail and strong winds, however the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is now only predicting between 5-15mm of rain in Melbourne.

"Early in the week we might have been suggesting it could have been up to 30mm, and some of the outer suburbs in particular might see that. But it's looking less likely to get that sort of total in the city," a BOM spokesperson said.

"There's going to be some rain off and on right through the day including into tonight, so I don't think we're going to be rid of the rain by tonight. There's certainly the risk of further rain during the game, but the intensity is difficult to say this far ahead.

"We'd be advising anyone going there to take some wet weather gear."

Melbourne is tipped to reach a top of 18 degrees on Friday.

The spokesperson said the bureau is not expecting any hail in Melbourne for the clash, which will see the winner progress to the preliminary final and the loser face the Western Bulldogs next week.

A long-term forecast for September weather in Melbourne from the BOM shows an expectancy for average monthly rainfall in the city.