HAWTHORN Vice-Captain Jordan Lewis expects a tough match against the Eagles on Friday night despite the difference in ladder position.

The Hawks are on top of the AFL ladder having won its last 10 matches, while the Eagles are battling some indifferent form so far this season.

Injuries to key players has impacted Coach John Worsfold’s ability to stabilise his 22, with key players Mark LeCras, Sharrod Wellingham, Darren Glass, Beau Waters, Josh Kennedy, Nic Naitanui, Will Schofield and Eric McKenzie all missing games this season.

Touted as a premiership contender, it has been a disappointing season to date for the Eagles, who’ll be looking for their first big scalp of the season at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Lewis says despite their ladder position (currently ninth), the Hawks know they’ll be in for a physical and hotly contested match.

“They won’t be looking at the ladder thinking Hawthorn are first and we’re sitting a little bit lower, we can’t win,” he said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.

“They’ll be out to get us.”

The Hawks aren’t without areas for improvement despite its 10-1 record from 11 matches.

Hawthorn was well beaten in the clearances against the Blues on Friday night (51-30) and will be looking to bounce back against a quality midfield in West Coast on Friday night.

Led by ruckmen Dean Cox and Naitanui as well as midfielders Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey and Scott Selwood, Lewis says the Hawthorn won’t be intimidated by the imposing names on the opposition side on Friday.

West Coast are ranked third in the competition for clearances, but the Hawks are ranked number one for centre clearances - a stat in which the Hawks star says the side will take confidence.

“That’ll definitely be something we put a lot of time and energy into in terms of their ruckmen and their midfield group,” he said.

“We’ve also got to take confidence that we’ve got an established group as well.

“We had one little slip up on the weekend but I think over the entirety of the season, we’ve actually been performing pretty well.”

The Hawks Vice-Captain also says the playing group and coaching staff have taken confidence in that fact it was able to get the win despite not playing its best football against the Blues.

“We were rusty early, but I suppose it’s good coming out of those games knowing that you didn’t play to your best but you still win, so I think that’s a positive,” he said.