Collingwood midfield star Dayne Beams says it is time to reverse a poor AFL finals record, after the best home and away season of his young career.

The 22-year-old has stepped up in the absence of injured teammate Luke Ball, to the extent that he has made himself one of the leading Brownlow Medal fancies.

But his finals history is mediocre.

Injury played a part last year, keeping Beams out of the grand final, but in the previous year’s drawn grand final and replay he had minimal impact and his 2009 finals campaign was also disappointing.

“I’m not shying away from that,” Beams told AAP on Monday.

“It’s something that I want to resurrect this finals series.

“I’ve played well in big home and away games.

“It’s now time that I played well in a final and that’s really what I want to do.”

Beams’ stellar season suggests he is primed to do so.

His move this year from a forward who had midfield stints to a midfield specialist has helped him dramatically increase his possession rate.

Significantly, he is kicking just as many goals, including 16 in the past eight rounds.

And he has produced his best in some of the Magpies’ biggest matches, including 34 touches and four goals when Collingwood last met Friday night’s qualifying final opponents Hawthorn.

The Hawks comfortably won that match and won the clubs’ round one fixture and Beams said it will take something special to overcome the flag favourites.

“They’re a super side, they finished on top of the ladder for a reason,” he said.

“Their balance between offence and defence is brilliant really.

“We’re going to have to be on our game on the weekend and produce our best performance of the year to get over them.”

But after being flag favourites from the start of last season until days before losing the decider to Geelong, the Magpies are comfortable in Hawthorn’s shadow.

“The last couple of years we’ve probably been the hunted. Teams have probably come after us,” Beams said.

“This year we’ve been not as in-form as we have been in the last couple, so in a way we’re the hunters.

“That’s something that sits fine with us.”

Small forward Jarryd Blair is expected to return from injury, while Tyson Goldsack (ankle) has to prove his fitness.

But the Magpies’ biggest decision is whether to reinstate axed forward-ruckman Chris Dawes.