Pick your batting order

Which midfield bats the deepest? Hawthorn will have Jordan Lewis (injury permitting) and Sam Mitchell opening up, with Will Langford as a street-fighting No.3, and then a classy and experienced middle order of Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Liam Shiels, followed by Isaac Smith and Brad Hill as the late-innings hitters (if not Cyril Rioli or Brad Sewell). Sydney, meanwhile, opens up with Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack, Harry Cunningham as a nuggety No.3, and then Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery and Jarrad McVeigh making up a flawless middle order, leaving Ben McGlynn and Lewis Jetta as the closers. It's kind of like Australia's "Untouchables" cricket team led by Steve Waugh (Hawthorn and Hodge) versus the World XI (Sydney). Logic and the statistics tell you the World XI has more firepower, but the Aussies also have a certain professionalism and toughness having been down the road together for longer.

Who do you tag?

Langford showed last week he can not only shut down the opposition's best player, but also get busy himself, amassing 10 clearances, 19 contested possessions and 29 disposals against Port Adelaide, all while reeling in Travis Boak's influence. So who is the assignment this week? Hannebery almost won a Norm Smith Medal the last time he played a grand final, Jack is the team's No.1 goal assist player, and Alastair Clarkson would kick himself if he didn't put some work into Parker, given he seems like the man most dangerous right now. But Kennedy has been the man all season, and if Clarkson decides he needs to concentrate on just one in order to limit the rest, then an extractor like Kennedy could be the target. He ranks No.2 in the AFL for contested possessions and ground-ball gets, from which he then feeds the ball to outside players (he ranks No.1 in the league for handballs), which kick-starts the Swans' attack.

'Big Boy' for a big boy?

More than one respected judge this week has insisted the Hawks do not need to change their ruck combination to combat Mike Pyke because "it's not as if he's Aaron Sandilands". That's true, but what he is, is this: 104 kilograms (listed seven kilograms heavier than Jonathon Ceglar) and a proven big-game performer. The fact he beat Todd Goldstein in the hit-outs in stoppages when the two were matched together on Friday night went unnoticed in the wash-up, although we all remember how he rose to the occasion on grand final day two years ago to beat David Hale and Jarryd Roughead after Shane Mumford went down. So do the Hawks stick with 23-year-old Ceglar to partner Hale, or do they bring in "Big Boy" Ben McEvoy, who beat Pyke when he shouldered most of the ruck duties when Hale was out in round 18.

Outside weapons

We know how important the inside battle will be. But there is a "barometer player" for each club who are worth keeping one eye on as the contest spreads. The structure of both teams is such that if either Hill at Hawthorn or Jetta at Sydney has the ball in their hands and are breaking lines, then their teams are in good shape. Jetta is not only the most prolific at Sydney for pumping the ball inside 50, he also ranks No.6 in the league for doing so. Hill meanwhile, ranks No.1 at the Hawks and No.4 in the AFL for creating scores for his teammates, remarkable for a non-forward line player. Both are lightning quick and skilful, but you would think only one will have the impact they are hoping for.