JACK Gunston says he and his teammates go into every game to hunt their opposition rather than be hunted because of their success last year.

The Hawks have lost just three matches this season – to Geelong, Sydney and Port Adelaide – with the latter two coming at a time when the side was severely hit by injury.

Even then, Alastair Clarkson’s team almost pulled off an unlikely victory in both those matches but eventually succumbed, he said, probably due to a lack of experience and personnel.

The secret behind the ability to perform at a high level no matter who’s on the field or off it is intent, Gunston says, and the ability to treat each game and contest within it with respect.

That’s the hallmark of this Hawthorn team and the determination within the group that currently sits atop the AFL ladder.

The Hawks have shown it has just as much desire for the contest as it did last year, despite reaching the pinnacle less than 12 months ago.

When some questioned the willingness of Hawthorn and its players to back up their premiership-winning season of last year coming into 2014, the Hawthorn players and coaches knew that wouldn’t be the case.

While others doubted, the Hawks focused their energy on improving to stay ahead of the game and to ensure the hunger for success raged within the playing group.

That hunger has already been displayed this season as the Hawks sit in a favourable position in their pursuit for another top four finish.

“Any team that wins a premiership goes into the next season and those games being the hunted,” Gunston told hawthornfc.com.au

“It’s just a matter of how footy clubs approach each game – us at Hawthorn, we approach each game the same, no matter what team we’re playing.

“We go out there wanting to be the hunters.”

Jack Gunston tackles Geelong's Mark Blicavs.

Part of that mindset stems from knowing that it takes just one lapse in concentration or loss of focus to be beaten by a challenger.

“If you’re off a bit one day and don’t treat each game in the same way, it’s very easy to lose that game,” Gunston said.

“You have to go into each game knowing that the other team wants to knock you off.

“If you’re marginally off in any area in any game, then opposition teams will be there ready to exploit it.”

North Melbourne will challenge that philosophy on Friday night, when the two sides meet at Etihad Stadium in an important top-eight clash.

Already the Roos have beaten three of the four top teams this season, recording away victories against Sydney and Fremantle and beating Port Adelaide on their home deck in Melbourne.

A dangerous proposition at any time given the talent within their list, a Kangaroos outfit on the rebound and keen to atone for their shock loss against Brisbane last Saturday night is another prospect.

Gunston knows they’ll come out firing but the Hawks will be ready for the challenge.

“No doubt it’s going to be a great battle on Friday night – it’s going to have to take four quarters of good footy to beat them,” he said.

“We’ve seen this year that they’ve already knocked off three of the top four teams so no doubt they’ll be looking to claim another scalp.

“They’ve got a great midfield and some very dangerous forwards and runners through that area so it’s going to be a great game.

“They’re a quality side who have great players all over the park.”

The Hawks beat the Roos in two tough battles last season, first by three points at the MCG in Round 5 and then by 14 points at Etihad Stadium in Round 22.

Both matches required a Hawthorn fightback to claim victory.

Gunston a similar battle on Friday night.

"They’ve got a great midfield and some very dangerous forwards and runners through that area so it’s going to be a great game, we’ve had some tough games against them recently so no doubt this will be similar," he said.