And with the Swans starting to click after a slow start to the season, Hawk co-coach Callum Turner admits it will take a good performance to topple their in-form opponents.

“Mark Doolan (Chiltern coach) has got them going well at the right time,” Turner said.

“They have firmed as one of our biggest rivals and over the past month or so they’ve shown that they are capable of beating the best sides in the competition.” 

Turner said the Swans had a number of marquee players, namely Doolan, Brad Hibberson and Jaise Coleman, who had all hit top form while being well supported by a strong junior contingent.

“Their young players have really stepped up, particularly early on when they had a few guys out,” Turner said.

“Good clubs don’t hide behind big name players, and that’s certainly the case with the Swans.

“We’ll do our best to quell the influence of some of their key players and really put it back onto their younger guys.” 

The Hawks will be without Luke Norton-Smith after the ruckman suffered a minor ankle injury early in last Saturday’s match against Barnawartha, while centre half forward Leigh Cameron is likely to be rested.

Despite the prospect of facing a slightly depleted Kiewa on home turf being a tantalising one, Chiltern coach Doolan said there was no way his side would go into the clash half cocked.

“We love playing on our home ground and using that space, but the Hawks have a lot of good running players, so being on a larger ground isn’t necessarily going to be a massive advantage,” Doolan said.

“We weren’t living up to our expectations internally for the first half of the season, for a number of reasons, but I think we’ve settled in pretty well now.

“We definitely missed a few key players early in the season, and that combined with this being my first season as coach we didn’t get off to a flying start.

“Everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them on the weekend, and it’s a good opportunity to test ourselves against the best in the competition.”

In other games, Barnawartha will be missing some key personnel when they face Yackandandah.

They will be without Jack Price as they attempt to bounce back from their heart-breaker against the Hawks after he broke his hand, while half-forward Josh Spence will have to prove his fitness after copping a series of knocks to his right leg last Saturday.

Mitta United face a red-hot Rutherglen as they look to avoid missing the finals for the first time since 2010.

Thurgoona face a season-defining showdown against Beechworth, Wahgunyah play the Wodonga Saints and a stuttering Tallangatta host Dederang Mt Beauty.