Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade is expecting another brutal AFL clash with Hawthorn when the sides meet at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The round-three game between the sides, which the Bulldogs won, was memorable as a fierce physical contest, notably when the Dogs' Jarrod Harbrow laid a huge shirtfront on Hawk Jordan Lewis.

Eade said on Thursday he expected another tough game given the Hawks had turned their season around since that last meeting on the back of six straight wins.

"I think it will be the same, no doubt about that," he said.

"Look at Hawthorn over the last three or four weeks, probably six, they've increased their tackling enormously and the way they go about it and in that (last) game both teams were very hard at it.

"We pride ourselves on our stoppage work and contested ball, so I imagine it will be a very physical game."

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