LANCE Franklin was a champion goalkicker and two-time premiership player at Hawthorn but he's just another Sydney Swan now, according to Luke Hodge.

In Friday night, Hodge's Hawks will face their former teammate for the first time since Franklin accepted a nine-year, $10 million deal to move north.

The Hawks skipper expertly deflected a barrage of 'Buddy' questions when he fronted the media at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.

"I thought the 'Buddy' question might come up," Hodge joked.

"But, look, I think anytime you play against Sydney they've got a lot of quality players which you've got be worried about ... he just adds to that.

"Our last three or four years against Sydney have been quite entertaining, and they've all been good contests.

"So it's going to be no different if they bring in Tippett, 'Buddy' – whoever they bring in that's going to the job for them."

Franklin's close friend Josh Gibson is his likely match-up, but Hodge said it would be a team effort to close down the star Swan – if he recovers from a knee injury in time to take his place.

"I'd reckon at some stage he'll play on him. But it's the same as on the weekend – we had three or four blokes go through and play on (Nick) Riewoldt," Hodge said.