LOOKING forward to this week's clash with West Coach, Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson is adamant Eagles ruck pairing Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui can be stopped.
The Hawks face the fearsome duo at the MCG on Friday night, with a win set to see them claim the minor premiership.
Naitanui starred against Collingwood last week, prompting declarations he is 'unstoppable'.
But Clarkson is optimistic his team can combat Naitanui's and Cox's influence, even if the two big Eagles dominate the hit-outs.
"I suppose the attitude we take is that if those guys were unstoppable, they (West Coast) wouldn't have been defeated this season," Clarkson said before training at Waverley on Thursday.
"Somewhere along the line some sides have been able to do well enough against them that they've been able to take the points off them.
"That's certainly what we're hoping to do.
"They're formidable, both of those players, and they give them first look at the ball on numerous occasions through the stoppages, but they're not outstandingly dominant in terms of clearances or scores from stoppages.
"So as good as those two guys are, it doesn't always mean it's going to be a victory for West Coast.
"We need to pay them respect, obviously, because they're two talented players - one very experienced and one very, very athletic - so they're a potent force.
"But it doesn't mean every time they play well that they're certainly going to win the game."
Small forward Cyril Rioli appears a good chance to make his return against West Coast, after two weeks out with a shoulder injury.
Rioli completed most of Thursday's light session, leaving the training track just before the end.
"He's trained all week," Clarkson said.
"We'll make a call later today, but he's pretty close.
"Unless something happens today, we'd expect we'd be naming him tonight."
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