Alastair Clarkson says Hawthorn will have to handle Melbourne's multi-pronged forward line if they're to spring an AFL upset.
The Demons are 4-0 - their best start to an AFL season since 1994 - despite key forward duo Ben Brown and Sam Weideman missing the early weeks of the season.
Youngster Kysaiah Pickett has been particularly electrifying for the Demons this season in attack, but Clarkson was wary of the players working alongside the second-year gun ahead of Sunday's game at the MCG.
"He's been a real livewire for them hasn't he?" Clarkson said.
"He and (Bayley) Fritsch up forward and (Jake) Melksham and others too - (Tom) McDonald has played really well for them - he (Pickett) is just one of six or seven players in their front end that will all pop up and make their contributions.
"Even little 'Chuck' (Charlie) Spargo has been doing a really good role for them in the front end.
"They're strong everywhere. That's why they sit in the top couple on the ladder and 4-0."
The Demons will be without in-form goalkicker Fritsch who fractured his hand at training.
Hawthorn veteran Shaun Burgoyne will almost certainly return after he was an unused medical sub against Fremantle last week, while the Hawks were optimistic Dan Howe would play after suffering an AC joint injury during the Dockers game.
Meanwhile Melbourne are expected to opt for either young key tall Harry Petty or versatile back man Michael Hibberd to fill the hole in defence caused by Steven May's eye injury.
The Demons could be tempted to go with the smaller Hibberd given Mitch Lewis is suspended and Jacob Koschitzke and Tim O'Brien are filling Hawthorn's key forward posts.
"Things we need to take into account when we make those decisions are whether we want to play the three talls in defence or we want to go a little bit smaller and get more run and carry off our back half," coach Simon Goodwin said.
