Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson will resist the temptation to drop his more experienced players for the time being, despite many of them having below-par seasons.
The likes of Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli, Josh Gibson, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston, Paul Puopolo and Luke Breust have failed this year to match the lofty standards they set for themselves during the club's recent golden period.
While Rioli will be sidelined for an extended period due to a knee injury, the others remain available for selection and don't appear headed for the chopping block regardless of their form.
Clarkson has moved to give his younger players more of a go in 2017 but maintained they needed a solid network of proven premiership stars around them to fast-track their development.
"We've got a fair few younger ones playing so we've just got to make sure that the balance is right and we need our experienced players playing some good footy," Clarkson said at Melbourne Airport before flying to Sydney to face the Swans at the SCG on Friday night.
"But with bringing youth into the side you need to make sure the experience is there irrespective sometimes of whether they're playing well or not. You just need their guidance and experience there to help some of the younger players.
"We're fortunate that (VFL affiliate) Box Hill have won six games and are playing some good footy so we're pleased that the guys coming into the side have been performing well and deserve their opportunity.
"We've got a lot of new guys in our side at the moment who are finding their way and that's a really good thing for the future of our footy club but it's just going to mean we're a little inconsistent in patches.
"We know full well, though, that if we're too inconsistent in large patches of the game this week against Sydney, they'll really hurt us."
Sydney and Hawthorn might be occupying different parts of the ladder to the ones they've become accustomed to in recent years, but their upcoming encounter still looms as another huge match with the winner potentially finding themselves only a game outside the top eight after round 10.
"It's a close season. Who knows what's going to happen in the second half of the season?" Clarkson said.
"Both these sides are proud clubs, they've got a tremendous rivalry having played each other in big games, in finals, over the last five or six years so irrespective of ladder position, they're always keenly contested affairs."
Clarkson took heart from the fact the Hawks have won five of their last six meetings against Sydney in Sydney.
"A lot of our players would've played in a lot of those games so that gives you some heart that you know that you're capable of winning interstate games," he said.
Clarkson also reaffirmed his support for Tom Mitchell, who will come up against his old side for the first time, after the prolific ball winner drew criticism in some quarters for his 50-disposal match during the Hawks' 18-point loss to Collingwood last week.
"We're pleased with what he's able to do in terms of the role that he needs to play for us," Clarkson said.
"If we'd have won the game there would've been many, including those in the press, that would have said he was a significant reason for us winning.
"Because we didn't win the game, everyone says it's Tom Mitchell's fault. For goodness sake. Gee whiz."
Meanwhile, Jaeger O'Meara isn't expected to play until at least round 14 as he continues his recovery from a knee injury. The former Sun hasn't played since round six.
