AFTER 10 losses in their past 11 matches, the Brisbane Lions face another stiff exam on Saturday when they travel to Tasmania to take on Hawthorn.

The 2008 premiers started the season slowly, but are now one of the form teams of the competition with their seven-match winning streak only broken by a two-point loss against Geelong at the weekend.

The two teams could not have had more contrasting seasons to date.

Both the Lions and Hawks are sweating on the fitness of their respective captains with Jonathan Brown and Sam Mitchell tipped to return. Their return would unleash arguably the two best forward lines in the competition with Brown and Brendan Fevola at one end and Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead at the other.

When the teams met last met at Aurora Stadium, the Lions had one of their best wins under Michael Voss with Brown starring in a 42-point triumph.

Forward scout: Hawthorn

2010 to date
Hawthorn started slowly but like a coal train, has now gathered momentum and is proving hard to stop.  They lost to premiership fancies Geelong, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in the first month which started a six-game slide. But since eking out a three-point win against a then-struggling Richmond, the Hawks have found their best form. They won seven on the trot, and despite a two-point loss to Geelong on Saturday, they have shown they are back near their premiership best.

The coach
Alastair Clarkson has had a rollercoaster six years in charge of Hawthorn. He took over in 2005 with a struggling Hawks team and improved every year until the stunning premiership in 2008. The development of a core of players that included Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Lance Franklin was seen as a major success for the former North Melbourne and Melbourne player.

However the Hawks had a serious premiership hangover last season, missing the finals, before seemingly rising again this season. Clarkson has been responsible for bringing a tough edge to Hawthorn that makes them one of the fiercest teams in the competition.

The gun
Luke Hodge has turned into one of the competition’s elite players and is a favourite for this year’s Brownlow Medal. The No.1 pick in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft now has 166 games under his belt. He might not have the ‘c’ for captain next to his name, but Hodge is a leader at the Hawks and one of their most inspirational players.

He can defend well above his 184cm, can bang bodies with the best of the them, and delivers the ball on a platter when going forward. Whether he plays across half back or in the middle, the Lions would be well advised to have a run-with player trying to curb his influence.

The sleeper
Lance Franklin is one of the most gifted players running around and can win a match off his own boot. The left-footed full forward kicked 113 goals in a stellar 2008, and despite ‘struggling’ with 67 last season, was still recognised by Hawthorn with third place in its best and fairest.

Despite missing some games through suspension this season, he is running into some nice touch with 36 goals in 11 matches. A nightmare to match up on with his combination of speed, agility and size, Franklin is likely to be manned by Lions enforcer Daniel Merrett.

The bolter
After being taken at no.46 in last year’s draft, Ben Stratton has been a revelation for Hawthorn. In a largely experienced team, the 21-year-old has forced his way into the Hawks' back six and done a fine job, playing the last 13 games. He has a good motor, can play on talls and smalls and might get the job on Brent Staker if he plays forward for the Lions.

Strengths
Lions coach Michael Voss has referred to it twice in his past three losing pressing conferences, but the Hawks' great strength is their ‘unsociable football’. They are tough, rugged, uncompromising and make no apologies for it. If you want to beat them you have to bash and crash your way through packs to win the ball. If Hodge, Mitchell and co run riot in the middle, the likes of Franklin, Roughead and Cyril Rioli will make your life misery in the forward line.

Weaknesses
When they’re playing as well as they have in the past two months, Hawthorn has few weaknesses. Essendon, the Bulldogs and Collingwood have shown that speed and quick ball movement can catch them out, but that only comes after winning the hard ball first. The Lions’ speedsters like Justin Sherman, Ash McGrath and Todd Banfield will be trying to transfer play quickly.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.