HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson was more content with the preparation and conditioning his side received from their narrow win over Gold Coast, than the 10-point win itself.

Despite Luke Breust kicking a career-best five goals and Brendan Whitecross collecting 23 possessions and kicking three, Clarkson was more complimentary towards Gold Coast.

"We didn’t have any standout players, most of the standout players were on the other team," Clarkson said.

"We got the job done in the end.  It was hardly impressive but in terms of preparation for the qualifying final versus Geelong, that was our clear goal."

Clarkson said the side flew back to Melbourne with a full complement of players ready to play in the finals, including the eight players rested for the Suns clash (Max Bailey, Grant Birchall, Lance Franklin, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Cyril Rioli and Shaun Burgoyne).

"We were taking out eight seasoned campaigners, the eight guys we took out of our side have played a lot of minutes and they have helped us get to 17 wins and four losses," he said.

"The game time we were able to put into some of lads who have had disrupted campaigns over the last six to eight weeks was gold for us."

Clarkson said a more experienced Gold Coast side would have beaten the Hawks at Metricon Stadium.

"We allowed Gold Coast far too much control of the ball at the stoppages and far too many inside 50s," he said.

"Gold Coast, if they were a little bit more experienced and a little bit more polished, they would have put us to the sword a few times with the amount of inside 50 entries they had."

Clarkson said if Geelong’s win over Collingwood on Friday was any indication, the Hawks would have to play their best football to beat them.

"I didn’t watch too much [of the game], they must have been very impressive, but we will have a look at that throughout the course of the week," he said.