Hawthorn’s decision to dump Brad Sewell for Saturday’s preliminary final was based partly on the Hawks’ concerns over Port Adelaide’s explosive pace.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said he sympathised with Sewell but added the strong form of youngster Will Langford had put extra pressure on the 200-game veteran’s place in the midfield.

Sewell will be pushing for a recall should Hawthorn progress to their third consecutive grand final, as will fellow dual premiership star Cyril Rioli.

The brilliant Rioli is set to return at VFL level on Sunday if the Hawks beat Port on Saturday.

The small forward hasn’t played since round 15 because of a hamstring injury.

“We think the best approach for him is to get some confidence in his body at VFL level,” Clarkson told reporters on Friday.

“We’ve taken the attitude at this club for the last two or three years to pick fit players for finals in particular.”

Clarkson described Sewell as a very decorated and highly respected player.

“We need to be at our very best,” Clarkson said.

“That’s why it’s so important we have to make really tough decisions like we did yesterday in terms of leaving Sewelly out.

“He’s disappointed. I’m disappointed.

“Matty Suckling has played some really good footy for us throughout the course of the year.

“With Matty coming in, it gave us an extra player who could play half-back, wing, half-forward.”

Asked about Port’s array of small forwards and midfield pace, Clarkson said: “That’s part of it.

“We’ve got a lot of inside mids, particularly with the emergence of Will Langford who’s played some really good footy for us in the second half of the year.

“We just feel like we’ve got a better balance with Matty Suckling coming into the team.”

Clarkson noted Port’s 10-1 start, which put Ken Hinkley’s side two games clear on top of the table after 12 rounds.

“They had some pretty good games early in the year and they’ve returned to some of that form in the last five or six weeks,” Clarkson said.