AFL premiers Hawthorn will look to ease the pressure on key onballer Sam Mitchell when the Hawks meet the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night.
Mitchell was one of the teams best in the loss to the Cats on the weekend, grabbing 30 possessions despite the close attention applied by Geelongs Scott Selwood.
Hawks Kokatha defender Shaun Burgoyne (pictured) says the premiers will need to step up and create space for Mitchell if the Bulldogs look to repeat the close checking they used with great effect when the two sides last met in Round 3.
