THE INCLUSION of Brian Lake to Hawthorn’s defence will force Sydney to go against the increasing trend of long kicks into the forward.

Lake has played two matches for the Hawks since crossing from the Bulldogs at the end of last season, and has already forged a strong relationship with fellow key back, Josh Gibson.

The pair is now Hawthorn’s two key defensive pillars, with youngster Ryan Schoenmakers out for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.

The former Bulldog is one of the competition’s best at reading the play, and working his opponent under the ball.

He is one of the best at marking opposition kicks, but that’s not where his talents end according to Sydney Coach, John Longmire.

Longmire believes Lake and Gibson are two of the best spoilers in the game, and they have proven that since playing their first match together in the Round 5 win over North Melbourne.

The pair combined for 17 spoils against the Kangaroos and 12 against the Crows last weekend.

The Swans coach says those stats are evidence to ensure his team don’t kick long inside 50 and instead, will lower its eyes to find leading targets.

"You can't afford to just bang it into your forward line and expect the ball is going to be kept in there, because when they spoil it, they spoil it 20 or 30 metres,” Longmire said.

"We've got to make sure that we don't kick the ball to Brian's advantage because up in the air he and Gibson are two of the best spoilers in the game.”

Lake will likely find his way onto emerging forward Sam Reid who was in good form against Brisbane last Sunday, while Gibson could spend time on Swans co-captain Adam Goodes as well as resting ruckmen Mike Pyke and Shane Mumford.