HAWTHORN midfielder Jordan Lewis knows Collingwood are a dangerous proposition and the Hawks will need to produce their best football to beat them when the two teams meet at the MCG on Friday night.

Collingwood has beaten Essendon by 79 points and premiership fancies and reigning premiers Sydney by 29 points in the past two weeks, form he suggests is as good as any side in the league at present.

Hawthorn’s form on the other hand has been indifferent in the past month, with a surprise loss to Richmond following one of its best performances of the year, a 56-point win over the Bombers in Round 18.

The Vice-Captain knows the team’s form hasn’t been at its peak in the past month, but hopes that will turn around on Friday night as they ramp up preparations for the finals in a month.

“You want to play your best footy come finals no doubt, but it’s always good to get wins in the bank and confidence going into the finals series,” Lewis told hawthornfc.com.au

“We’ll be looking to play well this Friday night against Collingwood and reassure ourselves that come finals, we can play that style of football.”

Lewis knows the challenge is ahead of the Hawks though, given the form of Collingwood in the last two weeks.

“Their form has been as impressive as any side in the competition, they seem to be having everything click for them at the moment and no doubt they pose as a dangerous threat on Friday night,” he said.

Part of the reason why the Pies have been so impressive in the last two weeks is on the back of the form of their midfielders and in particular, Dane Swan.

Swan has averaged 30.5 disposals, six clearances, five tackles, five inside 50s and a disposal efficiency of 76 per cent – up there with the league’s best ball users in the midfield.

He has been arguably the best performed Collingwood midfielder in the last two weeks, reaping the benefits of having midfielder partner Dayne Beams back in the side.

Lewis admits Swan is one of a number of Collingwood midfielders the Hawks will be mindful of on Friday night.

“In the past he might get 30 touches and not get that noticed, but over the last three or four games he’s getting touches and gaining a lot of ground with those,” he said.

“He’s one we’ll have to be mindful of because he’s such a dangerous player.

“Him, along with a few others we’ll be very cautious of when they have the ball.”

One of those other players he speaks of is Heath Shaw, one of Collingwood’s most dangerous weapons across half back.

Shaw is, in fact provides most of Collingwood’s attacks from defence, ranked number one at his club for rebound 50s, with an average of 4.4 per game.

He is also ranked fifth for total disposals, fifth for uncontested possessions and interestingly, third behind only Travis Cloke and Ben Reid for marks.

He is also in the top 10 in the league for rebound 50s.

Lewis, knows perhaps better than anyone Shaw’s strengths, given he has, in recent meetings between the sides played a role on the Collingwood defender.

“Anyone who watches Collingwood and watches Heath Shaw play, he no doubt adds an aerial aspect to their game in terms of chop out marking,” he said.

“He also adds a running power as a running back, he generates a lot of their run from their back half, which they count on.

“(So) not only is he dangerous in the air, but also on the ground. He is a very good player.”