Winning the stoppages, rather than trying to stop man mountain Aaron Sandilands, is Hawthorn’s bigger concern ahead of the AFL grand final rematch with Fremantle.

Sandilands has enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, with 39 hitouts in round one and a whopping 58 last week in the win over Gold Coast.

David Hale, who played a crucial role in last week’s narrow win over Essendon, and Ben McEvoy will go up against the giant Docker on Friday night at the MCG.

“Strangely enough, despite his height and his dominance and hit-outs last week they still lost the stoppages to a Gold Coast side that were okay in that area of the ground,” Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said of Sandilands.

“Just because of his dominance doesn’t mean they’re going to win games of footy or win (all) the clearances.”

Fremantle will be without two important players from their midfield rotations, with Michael Barlow injured and Nathan Fyfe suspended.

Defender Zac Dawson is also out because of suspension and their replacements are Garrick Ibbotson, Lachie Neale and Alex Silvagni.

While the Hawks regain star utility Sam Mitchell from a calf injury, captain Luke Hodge is out after he hurt his groin against the Bombers.

“He’s got a pretty minor ailment and he’s been banging the door down trying to tell us that he’s okay, but we’re better off just taking a week,” Clarkson said.

“He’s a warrior and he’s captain of the club and wants to get out there and play as often as he can, but we just think it’s better off he has a rest.”

The reigning premiers also promoted Matt Spangher and dropped Tim O’Brien.

The two teams are unbeaten going into the match, with recent history favouring the Dockers.

In four of the past five seasons, the losing grand finalists have won the following match against the premiers.