HAWTHORN will not be taking the struggling West Coast Eagles lightly in Sunday's clash at Subiaco Oval, despite the two teams sitting at opposite ends of the AFL ladder.

The Hawks are assured of a showdown with the Western Bulldogs in the first week of the finals, but coach Alastair Clarkson indicated the team would be looking to recapture its sparkling early season form with a win over the 15th-placed Eagles.

"We just can’t underestimate any opposition," Clarkson said from Melbourne airport ahead of the Hawks' departure on Saturday morning.

"You know if we play to our structure and systems, and if we do that particularly well, then we'll be confident enough to kick a big enough score to win."

Clarkson pointed to last week's 29-point loss to Richmond as a lesson for his side.

"Our game against the Tigers last week was well below what we expect from ourselves as a group of players and coaching staff," Clarkson said.

"I’m not saying for one minute that we underestimated Richmond but it goes to show that last week’s game is just like this week's.

"If we don't play at our best and the opposition do play well then we find it really difficult to score.

"We are just trying to get ourselves back into some winning form leading into the finals."

Clarkson played down the hype surrounding star forward Lance 'Buddy' Franklin reaching the 100-goal mark on Sunday, and believes the controversial issue of fans invading the ground will take care of itself.

"He’s (Franklin) still got six to get and in any one team that's a pretty good day so it's probably more likely that it'll be the Carlton game [next week]," he said.

"I’m sure the AFL has got it all worked out with the ground officials at Subiaco Oval if it does happen."

With vital players Luke Hodge and ruckman Robert Campbell missing through suspension and illness, the Hawks have recalled hard-running wingman Clinton Young and youngster Brent Renouf for the trip west.

"He’s missed the last five games for us, Youngy.

"He came back through Box Hill and had an unfortunate one-week suspension, which put him back on his heels a little bit.

"He’s an important player to our mix and when he's up and playing well we seem to be a better side."