Senior Coach Michael Voss knows what to expect when his side faces ladder-leaders Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium on Sunday.

Hawthorn are the competition benchmark, and probably have been for the past couple of years.

A narrow loss to Geelong in Round 1 is the only blemish on what has been an otherwise near-perfect 2013 season for the reigning Grand Finalists.

The Hawks lead the competition in most areas, and boast the AFL’s most dangerous forward line headlined by Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and Jarryd Roughead – both of whom rank among the League’s top six goal-kickers.
 
There are very few chinks in Hawthorn’s armour, which leads Voss to believe that the Lions will have a “good task on their hands”.

“They’re pretty good,” Voss said understatedly.

“When we go down there (to Tasmania), we know there won’t be any surprises from Hawthorn’s end.

“They’re well coached and well prepared. Their professional players are playing well. They’re a good football team.

“We understand how potent they are up front. It’s going to take a real group effort to go down there and try and get away with a win.”

The Lions are all too familiar with Hawthorn’s on-field dominance in recent seasons, given they have lost each of their last three meetings with the Hawks by an average margin of 10 goals.