HAWTHORN is likely to head into Friday night’s grand final re-match minus several stars but vice-captain Luke Hodge says that is no excuse for the reigning premiers not to beat “the best team in the comp”.

Despite his own side standing atop the premiership dais just six months ago, last year’s Norm Smith Medallist Hodge believes the Cats deserve premiership favouritism after two years of near-faultless football.

The two teams meet in a re-run of last season’s premiership decider at the MCG this Friday night, with a crowd of more than 80,000 expected.

The Hawks are certain to be without key defender Trent Croad (foot), while backmen Stephen Gilham (knee), Grant Birchall (hamstring) and Campbell Brown (ankle) remain in doubt for the blockbuster.

“We’ve still got a few fellas that are going to get tested closer to the game,” Hodge said at Waverley on Monday morning.

“I think Browny, Birchall and Gilham, they’re not out yet so they’ll probably get a test on Thursday and we’ll see how they go.”

Hodge said despite his team’s injury-hampered lead-up to round one, the Hawks had enjoyed a solid summer and they went into their season-opener ready for the Cats.

“On Friday night we’re going to play 22 fit blokes; it doesn’t matter who the 22 are,” he said.

“All the boys have had a good pre-season and we’re going to be ready to go.”

Jordan Lewis (shoulder) appears unlikely to be named having not played a match during the pre-season, while Xavier Ellis (hip) will also miss.

Of most concern for the Hawks, however, is their backline. Although Hodge, the man who repelled countless Cat attacks on grand final day, says his team has the cattle to again stop the charge from Mark Thompson’s men.

He said Gilham, who is suffering bone bruising to a knee, would be “very close” to playing but others could also fill the void.

“There’s Tom Murphy, who played 18 games for us last year and did very well,” he said.

Hodge said he expected the Cats to again set the pace in 2009.

“Geelong has been the best team over the last two years and it showed in the pre-season; they missed a few players here or there and they still played fantastic football,” he said.

“So we’re going to [need to] be at our best on the weekend if we’re going to push them, I guess.

“They’re rightfully favourites for this year because, as I said, the football they’ve played over the last two years has been sensational.”