A TWILIGHT Preliminary Final awaits Hawthorn next Saturday at the MCG, the AFL has confirmed.

The Hawks will take on the winner of the Adelaide-Fremantle Semi-Final at the MCG on Saturday 22 September at 5.15pm AEST.

Despite qualifying for the 2012 Finals Series in first place, Hawthorn has been forced into the Saturday timeslot after the Swans were given the Friday night match because of a clash with an NRL final.

The AFL released a statement on Tuesday afternoon explaining the decision, with television and travel taken into account.

"(The decision is) to maximise both the match-day and television audience … as well as ensuring that the visiting team would be able to return to its home state that night to prepare for the Grand Final, should either Adelaide or Fremantle qualify," the statement read.