HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says the Hawks have no excuses in Friday’s season opener against Geelong despite an injury-riddled pre-season.

Up to 16 Hawthorn players spent part of the summer injured but Clarkson said the side that runs out against the Cats would not be underdone.

“The guys who are representing the side tomorrow night are full throttle. The guys who have been out injured will have to work their way into the season and we’ll start playing them as they become available from their injuries,” Clarkson said.

“We know it is going to be an enormous challenge because Geelong are in very good form as we’ve seen in the NAB Cup. We know they are a quality outfit.”

The Hawks go in to the grand final replay as underdogs but Clarkson reminded the media that it was also the case last time around.

“We back ourselves just like no one gave us too much of a chance leading into the grand final. Inwardly we gave ourselves an enormous chance. We do that again tomorrow night for round one.”

Clarkson said he had little concern for external expectations.

“We don’t care one way or the other. All we know is there’s 22 brown and gold jumpers and 22 blue and white hooped jumpers out there on Friday night. Whoever’s got favoritism we couldn’t care one bit. We just know that the ball is bounced and we’ll have a crack at it,” he said.

“That’s for the media and the fans to speculate over. We know and so do Geelong that it is going to be a fierce contest.”

Asked to name one stand out on the track over pre-season, the Hawthorn coach hesitated to single anyone out.

“Collectively our group has impressed us. We had a real heavy campaign last year and the group has come back hungry and ready to go,” he said.

“We are the youngest list in the competition and we think there is a lot of improvement and development in the group. We’ve only got two or three players over 25 or 26 years of age.”