HAWTHORN can still win the flag, but must get tougher and harder over four quarters of football to avoid a straight sets finals exit.

That's the message from Hawks captain Luke Hodge, who says his team's focus on Friday night against the Sydney Swans will be on rectifying its poor performance in the clinches against Geelong last week.

"Of course there's belief," Hodge told media on Tuesday when asked if he and his teammates still believed they could win the premiership.

"But if we dish up the same stuff we dished up on Friday night, we'll be out in straight sets.

"We're focused on a hard, physical encounter on Friday night, and we'll be ready for it."

Hawthorn had 30 less contested possessions than the Cats in its 31-point qualifying final loss and conceded four goals directly from centre bounces.

The Hawks know it won't get any easier against the Swans, another renowned in-close team, with ruckman Shane Mumford in damaging form.

"We need to lift our game if we're going to win finals footy," Hodge said.

"You can't expect to not play four quarters and win.

"A lot of it is mindset.

"If you're going to beat Sydney you need to win the contested footy and win the clearances, so that's going to be a big focus this week."

The Hawks' skipper reported that injured forward Lance Franklin had been walking around on Tuesday and spent time on the stationary bike.

He said the Coleman medallist was "100 per cent" playing in his own mind, but the reality was slightly different.
 
"The doctors make the decision, and they're going to take no risk," Hodge said.

"If there's any possibility of him getting a further injury, they're not going to take that risk.

"They'll leave him up to the last moment."

Hodge said Jordan Lisle was a chance to come into the team should Franklin's knee not pass fit, and that Shaun Burgoyne and Jordan Lewis were others capable of going forward.

"Last time we played without 'Franky' and 'Roughy' [Jarryd Roughead] we kicked 23 goals (against Essendon in round 14), so we still believe we've got plenty more avenues to goal," the 27 year-old said.

Hodge dismissed any concern over his own fitness following the cork he suffered on Friday night, and said ruckman Max Bailey, subbed off against Geelong after hurting his calf, trained on Tuesday and would also be fit to face the Swans.

Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawks news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan