Watch Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli's press conference above.

HAWTHORN star Lance Franklin says he had no problem with the physical tactics dished up by his opponent Chris Tarrant on Friday night.

The veteran Magpies defender was in Franklin's face from the start of the qualifying final, and continued to bump and niggle throughout.

But Franklin held his nerve and managed to boot four goals, as well as having a hand in several others during the 38-point win.

On Monday, the big forward said he had enjoyed the contest.

"It was a good little battle," Franklin said.

"We've played against each other for a number of years now, and I enjoyed it.

"Once you cross the white line, anything can happen in football.

"That was finals football. It was a contested game."

One particular incident, in which Tarrant swung a forearm into Franklin's stomach after a ground level contest, may come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel.

But Franklin said: "There was nothing in it."

The 25-year-old also said he was unconcerned that the Hawks would have to play their preliminary final on a Saturday, rather than the traditional minor premiers' spot of Friday night.

The scheduling will give Hawthorn one fewer day to prepare for the Grand Final, should they win, than the winner of the other preliminary final, which had to be played on the Friday night due to an existing booking of ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

"We haven't thought about it at all, to be honest," Franklin said.

"We're just excited to have gotten ourselves into the position to play in a prelim, and hopefully a Grand Final."

Although the win gives Hawthorn a week off and a chance to refresh before playing off for a Grand Final spot, fellow Hawk Cyril Rioli said he would prefer to be playing this weekend.

"I think the boys would love to be playing this week," Rioli said.

"Having a week off is sort of difficult.

"The other teams are playing and they're trying to have a dress rehearsal for the finals."

However, Rioli also said the team was "pretty excited about the weekend off".

Geelong's loss to Fremantle on Saturday night ended the possibility of a preliminary final clash between the Cats and Hawks, which would have been a promoter's dream.

Hawthorn hasn't beaten its nemesis this season, or for the three seasons before that, but Franklin wasn't prepared to say whether he was relieved to have Chris Scott's team gone, or disappointed not to get a chance to beat them.

"It doesn't really matter," Franklin said.

"That's football.

"It's ended up the way it has, and we're just looking forward to getting out there in the prelim and seeing how we go."