HAWTHORN full back Brian Lake says he’s ready to stand gun Collingwood forward Travis Cloke in Saturday’s blockbuster at the MCG.

After missing six weeks with a calf injury, Lake will come straight back into the Hawthorn side, this time bypassing a stint in the VFL.

Cloke has kicked 13 goals in his last three games, including a bag of six against the Bulldogs last week and five against the Saints in Round 11.

But Lake says he’s up for the challenge after some big sessions on the training track in the lead-up to his return.

The premiership defender has been back running for three weeks and training fully for two, with the Hawks’ fitness staff holding him back a week to ensure he’s ready for Saturday’s big challenge.

“The last couple of weeks have been frustrating, when you’re out there training you want to be playing as soon as possible,” Lake told hawthornfc.com.au ahead of his return.

“But they’ve held me back and now I’m feeling good. I’m ready to go.”

Lake has stood Cloke before, in fact on a number of occasions when playing with the Bulldogs, particularly in high-pressure finals.

While he will more than likely be given the big task again by interim coach Brendon Bolton on Saturday, last year’s Norm Smith Medal winner says it will take a team effort to nullify Cloke’s influence.

That means fellow defenders Matt Spangher and Ryan Schoenmakers will be required to give Lake a chop out when possible.

“I’ve stood him a few times so I know what to expect,” he said.

“I’ll be reliant on the midfield as well to put a bit of pressure on and have some support as well down in the backline from ‘Spang’ (Matt Spangher) and ‘Schoey’ (Ryan Schoenmakers).

“It’ll be a team effort to get on top of him.”

While the defence will work as a unit to nullify him, Lake says it comes down too, to the pressure his midfield teammates can apply to the supply coming into Collingwood’s number one forward.

The Pies are ranked last in the league this season for disposal efficiency, which could make that task a little easier.

“It’s all about space and how they can kick the ball,” Lake said.

“If they have some pressure on their kicks then they might kick it a bit higher or not to the areas that the forward want it.

“If we can get in their face and make them kick over hands, then that means the ball sits a bit higher and that makes it easier for a third-man in or for myself  to spoil.

“That’s what we’re reliant on because if you’ve got guys just streaming forward with no pressure, it’s going to make it a lot easier for them to hit their targets.”

For the first time since joining Hawthorn, Lake will play alongside Schoenmakers after the young defender missed last all but four games last year due to a knee reconstruction.

The only game the pair have played together was in Round 7, when Schoenmakers returned from his knee injury but this time as a forward.

In that game he booted four goals before being forced into defence as Lake suffered the calf injury that sidelined him for six weeks.

Lake will be one of the more experienced heads in defence for the Hawks on Saturday, with Schoenmakers, Taylor Duryea and Angus Litherland expected to hold down key posts in the absence of Ben Stratton and Josh Gibson.

“It’s going to be good to play with ‘Schoey’ and Matt Spangher as well, who I haven’t played too much footy with other than a few games at VFL level,” Lake said.

“It’s a different looking backline but I guess with my experience I’ve got to become a leader down there, especially with ‘Gibbo’ out.”