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HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has a favourite saying: "When you lose one solider, you replace him with another one."

The Hawks lost key soldiers Brent Guerra, Clinton Young and Jordan Lewis for their qualifying final clash with Collingwood on Friday night, but as is expected in this well-drilled unit, their replacements stood tall.

Shane Savage and Xavier Ellis, in particular, performed strongly, ensuring their coach will have to think hard about leaving them out of his preliminary final team.

For different reasons, both Hawks have endured frustrations this season.

Savage played 18 senior games during the home and away season, starting as sub in five of them, before losing his place for the final two matches.

The 21-year-old, who was dropped after round 24 last year, looked set to miss September for a second consecutive season until Lewis' late withdrawal opened the door.

Donning the green vest again, he was into the game almost immediately after Brendan Whitecross injured his knee five minutes into the opening quarter.

Savage took his chance, offering plenty of dash as he collected 14 disposals, sent the ball inside forward 50 five times, and booted two superb goals, one a beauty from the boundary late in the opening term.

"It was my first final, so to experience that was awesome," Savage told hawthornfc.com.au after the match.

"It was unfortunate that Whitecross went down early, but it was a good opportunity for me to come on and have a bit of an impact, which I thought I did."

On being dropped, Savage said he'd tried to stay positive.

"It's important when you're not in the team to keep upbeat around the boys," he said.

"I had to get my confidence up in the VFL.

"I had a pretty good game last week and was able to maintain that tonight."

Ellis has battled multiple injuries this season, not playing his first senior game until round 20.

Despite solid form, he was left out of the team to face West Coast in round 23.

Like Savage, he made the most of his reprieve against the Magpies, drawing praise for his performance from Clarkson.

"Ellis has just had a really horrid run with injury over the last couple of years, but we really rate him as a player, and we think he can play some good footy for us in the last part of the season," Clarkson said.

"He got his chance, and you've got to try and make the most of it when you get that opportunity."