MIDFIELDER Liam Shiels says the Hawks won’t be underestimating the Blues in tonight’s clash at the MCG.

Despite having won just four of their first 11 games, Carlton put in their best performance of the season against Geelong last Friday night and almost pulled off a shock victory.

The impressive performance was on the back of a best on ground effort from gun midfielder Bryce Gibbs who not only quelled the influence of Joel Selwood for most of the game but gathered 29 disposals of his own and kicked four goals.

Shiels lauded the overall performance of the Carlton midfield last Friday night, with Marc Murphy, Brock McLean, Kade Simpson and Dale Thomas among the best.

“They had a great performance last week,” Shiels told hawthornfc.com.au “They were pretty unlucky in the end to get done, but I’m sure their confidence will be high this week so we look forward to a good game.

“I think their midfield was really good against the Cats. Blokes like Gibbs and Murphy had good games and Brock McLean had a great third quarter that got them back in the game.

“I think their midfield stepped up and that’s what got them in the game.”

The premiership midfielder, who has been used as a run-with player by the Hawks before, said the former number one draft pick will be someone he and his teammates will need to look out for tonight.

Shiels has played on some of the game’s elite midfielder, including Gary Ablett and Brent Harvey.

“Yeah he’s a good player ‘Gibbsy’, he’s a bit of a utility who can play everywhere,” he said of the star Blue.

“They’ve been using him all over the ground but against the Cats he had a great game in the midfield so we’re not sure where he’ll line up this week.”

Before suffering a shoulder injury in Round 4, Shiels relinquished his defensive jobs to young midfielder Will Langford and took on a more freewheeling midfield role.

He thrived in that task and became one of the Hawks’ most damaging midfielders, where he was ranked fourth at the Club for disposals.

But it was on the scoreboard where he inflicted the most damage, kicking four goals in the opening month.

“He’s (Langford) stepped up this year and has done some really good roles for the team,” Shiels said.

“That allows me to freewheel and get a bit more footy through the midfield.”

Shiels, 23, said the opportunity to play on and learn from some of the game’s best players in the last two years has taught him what it takes to be an elite midfielder in the modern game.

“I’ve learnt a lot from tagging and locking down on someone and tried to put it into play this year and try and get my own footy,” he said.

“I’m really enjoying my footy at the minute.”

Shiels has become one of the Hawks’ premier clearance players this year, ranked fifth for clearances, averaging 4.4 per game and fourth for centre clearances.

He will play his third game back from injury against the Blues tonight and is feeling confident in his ability to make an impact.