ASSISTANT Coach Brendon Bolton says Saturday’s 14-point come-from-behind win has served as a timely confidence boost one week out from the 2013 finals series.

Trailing by 26 points midway through the second term of Saturday’s match against the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium, the Hawks kicked nine goals to five in the second half to secure victory and a home final in the opening round of the 2013 finals series.

The second half turnaround in which the Hawks won the contested possessions, uncontested possessions and clearances gave the coaches and players confidence that it can adapt to any type of playing conditions.

It is something the team has been working on all season, and its test just two weeks out from finals was timely, and provided a valuable confidence boost in its alternate playing style.

“The thing we got out of it was sheer confidence,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“When the chips were down - we were 26 points behind at one stage, we know we can fight back and using some of our methods will work for us.

“We don’t give in.”

The Hawks went to plan B against North Melbourne after half time and were able to get the game back on their terms and stop the Kangaroos’ run.

It was the perfect preparation for the finals series the Hawks assistant says, given a team’s ability to adapt and change its style of play during the finals is important.

He says this Hawthorn team is resilient and doesn’t give up easily, two key ingredients it will need to be successful in September.

“We’ve got a group now who we think are really resilient, when things get tough they don’t give in,” he said.

“They will always play it out to the end of the game.

“Sometimes the strategy you’re using doesn’t work and you’ve got to go to other avenues, but what we do know is we’ve trained a number of different ways we can play because just relying on one won’t be enough.

“We know in finals you’ve got to have a lot of different types of ammunition that you can use in terms of your style of play because if you’re relying on one, it usually doesn’t last for four quarters.

“AFL football has now become something where you’ve got to change in quarters or quarter to quarter sometimes and on the weekend we changed some things at half time and got a good result.”

The Hawks face another big test on Friday night, coming up against reigning premiers Sydney at ANZ Stadium in the final home and away match of 2013.

The game follows a tough two weeks for the ladder-leaders, who have also played Collingwood in the last three weeks.

Bolton says the challenging run into the finals doesn’t worry Hawthorn.

“It gives you more opportunity to put into place what you’ve practiced,” he said.

“It also gives you more of a steely resolve, knowing that you’re ready to compete.”