HAWTHORN spearhead Jack Gunston says despite the Brisbane Lions coming off a disappointing three weeks, the Hawks can’t take them lightly when the two teams meet at the Gabba on Saturday.

The Lions have suffered heavy defeats at the hands of Melbourne, Collingwood and Port Adelaide in recent weeks, but Gunston said the Hawks need to be at their best.

“Their last three weeks have probably been a little bit disappointing, but if you look before then they lost to Sydney by three points and really tested North Melbourne, which are two very good sides,” he said.

“If you take them lightly they can definitely hurt you. They’ve got some really good players up there, their midfield runs hard and they’ve got some good young key position players.”

Saturday’s game will be the first time the Hawks have played at the Gabba since 2008, and the warmer, humid conditions will require Hawthorn’s players to adjust accordingly.

“We haven’t played up there in a while, so (the conditions) are going to be new to us and we’ve got to go out there in a similar way to what we have the last few weeks,” Gunston said.

“Obviously we didn’t get the win last week, we played some good footy in patches, but the three weeks before that we started to play the Hawthorn way again, so we’ve got to take that into the game up in Brisbane.”

Gunston’s form over the last month has been a highlight for the Hawks, with the key forward kicking 16 goals in the last four weeks.

Now a three-time premiership player, Gunston said Hawthorn’s forward line system has been able to function more effectively as the season has gone on.

“I’ve been able to hit the scoreboard a bit which is nice, but I think we’ve got our system going again and making it a lot easier for the whole forward line,” he said.

“We’ve had a few different guys pop up (and kick goals), a few guys are missing some opportunities in front of goal which we pride ourselves on, but we’re getting the opportunities and the ball’s moving well through the midfield which makes out job a lot easier.”

With Jarryd Roughead ruled out of football indefinitely, Gunston said he was enjoying taking on some leadership of the forward line.

“My (on-field) role is pretty similar, I’m probably just trying to fill the Roughead void in terms of leadership and voice,” he said.

“Being one of the more senior guys up in the forward line, it’s important the six-to-eight guys who play in the forward line each week pitch in to cover (Roughead’s absence).”

With the Hawks playing some younger players this season, Gunston's now seen as one of the more experienced players in Hawthorn’s front half.

“It’s exciting. They (James Sicily and Tim O’Brien) bring a different look to our forward line,” Gunston said.

“James has got a lot of X-factor about him and we know what we’re going to get with Tim – he’s strong in the contest and has great hands and they’re both great set-shots at goal.”

“They’re still just finding their way in AFL footy, they’re going to have their ups and downs but it’s good playing with them and seeing them develop and learn.”