Hawthorn must forget about the big-name St Kilda omissions ahead of Saturday's must-win AFL clash, according to coach Alastair Clarkson.

Despite the Saints resting captain Nick Riewoldt and a host of other stars for the Launceston game, Clarkson says they will remain formidable opponents.

The Saints are unbeaten after 18 rounds, while the Hawks are a game outside the top eight with an 8-10 win-loss record.

"We've just got to focus on what we've got to concentrate on - you can't look at anything else ... but respect for the way that St Kilda have gone about it for the whole year," Clarkson said.

"I dare say, despite the fact that they've got key guys out of their side, it's their systems and the manner they play with each other, more so than the personnel, that make them such a top-quality side.

"Some of their more key players being out, I wouldn't anticipate it's going to change their systems.

"So we've got to play the St Kilda system and play it well.

"If we can do that, we'll get ourselves a result - if we can't, they'll chock up win No.19."

Likewise, Clarkson insists the Hawks have not had any special build-up to this game, despite the likelihood of dropping two matches away from eighth spot with a loss.

"We haven't focussed on that too much at all for the last month, to be fair," he said.

"The results have looked after themselves, as long as we can look after the processes we've put in place to win games.

"At different stages over the last month, we've been really good at that and then we've fallen away in a couple of quarters."

The Hawks will hope key forward Lance Franklin can correct his goalkicking radar, after a wasteful 2.7 last week in the loss to Port Adelaide.

Franklin has bounced back to top form in the last month and Clarkson said it is important he is in the game as much as possible.

"We're a lot happier (with) him kicking 2.7 and getting 20 touches than we are only kicking 2.1 and having eight touches.

"He gets opportunities and as he's shown ... when he gets opportunities, it helps the side win games, irrespective of what his goalkicking conversion is.

"Over time, we would hope he slowly improves that, but it's not an enormous focus for us.

"If it becomes an enormous focus for us, it will take away other areas of his game."

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