KIEWA Sandy Creek midfielder Jack Di Mizio believes the Hawks won't lack any confidence when they clash with round 17 nemesis Barnawartha in the preliminary final.
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The Hawks - who finished fourth with a 12-5-1 record - are attempting to become the third side this decade to win the flag from outside the top three.
Tallangatta was the most recent side to achieve the feat in 2015.
While the Hawks also won four consecutive finals to pinch the flag in 2011.
The pair notched a thrilling draw in their first round encounter with the Tigers enjoying a 26-point victory in their most recent clash in round 17.
The Hawks have secured two confidence boosting wins over Tallangatta and Chiltern so far during the finals series.
"It was a bit of a slow start but we feel we are coming good at the business end of the season," Di Mizio said.
"Chiltern were in pretty good form, so to win like we did only fuels our confidence that can match anyone."
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Di Mizio said there were excuses for the slow start to their premiership defence.
"Like most sides we have had our fair share of injuries and a few blokes left at the start of the season," he said.
"At the start of the year most pundits had us as flag favourites because we had a similar side and added Michael Thompson.
"But people were quick to forget we lost Andrew Cardwell and Jake Uslar and then lost Mitch Paton during the season.
"Then Guy Telford and Scott Bartel struggled with back complaints during the season
"But it is all coming together now."
Barnawartha proved no match for flag favourite Thurgoona in last weeks second semi-final.
The battle scarred Tigers went into the clash with injury clouds over several of its star players including Tom Anson, Cameron McNeill and coach Peter Cook.
Anson and Connor Wiffen were late withdrawals while McNeill and Cook both had minimal impact.
Cook was kept goalless at Sandy Creek for the first time during his career.
Di Mizio said that could spell danger for the Hawks.
"Cookie will be hungry after being kept goalless," he said.
"We know what Cookie is like, he is a livewire and you have to pay him the respect he deserves.
"But they just don't rely on Cookie, to get this far in finals you need to have an even spread.
"We will show them respect but are looking forward to playing our brand of footy which we were able to achieve last week."
Di Mizio has also struggled at times with back-related hamstring tightness.
But the classy midfielder said he has overcome the issue.
"I usually work on the tools but had a change of role at work and was working more in the office," he said.
"My body was tightening up because I wasn't getting the same amount of movement during the day.
"But I'm back feeling good again."
