MIDFIELDER Jordan Lewis says Hawthorn is a better team than in 2011, and would consider anything less than a Grand Final appearance a disappointment.

The Hawks clinched top spot on the ladder for the first time since 1989 by beating West Coast last week, setting up a qualifying final showdown with Collingwood on Friday night.

Ahead of the clash, Lewis has told hawthornfc.com.au he believes the Hawks now have the confidence and personnel to go deep into September.

"It's hard to measure, but I think the way we're playing and the confidence that we're playing with has been a big improvement [on 2011]," Lewis said this week.

"Last year was a really good year to regain that confidence that we lost from 2009 and 2010, and it was a really good step in the right direction.

"This year we went into the season with a lot of confidence in the way we play, and I think our football over the last three months has been really good.

"I think any side that gets in this position and doesn't make a Grand Final would be disappointed, so that's the attitude we take.

"But we can't look too far ahead.

"We play Collingwood on Friday night and that's where the attention is."

The 26-year-old denied the 2011 preliminary final, which Hawthorn lost to the Magpies by three points, would act as a spur this week.

"You get a taste of a prelim final and in terms of being so close to the Grand Final, that's probably a driving force," Lewis said.

"But in terms of who knocked you out of that prelim final, it doesn't come into question.

"We've played them twice this year, so we've forgotten about what's happened last year.

"We've got a great opportunity to play well on Friday night."

Hawthorn will take the field without Brent Guerra, who tore his hamstring against the Eagles.

A close friend of the skilful defender, Lewis said the potentially season-ending injury had dulled the mood after the minor premiership-sealing win.

"It was mixed feelings," he said.

"You have the win and secure top spot, and then you look over at Brent who's on crutches and he's pretty sore.

"He's one of my good mates, so it's hard to see him hurt like that.

"But you never know. Things can happen."

Guerra's best hope of seeing on-field action again this year is if the Hawks make it all the way to the last day of the season.

That will start with a win over the Magpies, a task Lewis conceded wouldn't be easy.

"We're confident, but we're well aware that they played some good football on the weekend (against Essendon), and they've got a side that is experienced in finals, and they know how to win in finals.

"They've got a good midfield, a good backline, and obviously [Travis] Cloke up forward who can take grabs.

"We feel like we've got the majority of players on the park that we need to at this time of year, and we've been playing some good football.

"We've been having some down patches as well, which we need to improve.

"We're well aware that finals go up another cog, so we'll prepare ourselves as much as possible to combat that."

Mark Macgugan covers Hawthorn news for hawthornfc.com.au. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_MarkM.