Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has urged his players to draw inspiration from last year's qualifying final win over the Western Bulldogs as the Hawks look to arrest a worrying form slump.

Hawthorn thumped the Bulldogs by 51 points in the first week of the finals on their way to the 2008 premiership.

But at 6-7 and with games to come against three of the top four sides over the next month, the Hawks are in serious danger of becoming the first reigning premier to miss the finals since Adelaide in 1999.

However, Clarkson is optimistic his team can still make a late charge for the finals, starting with a rematch against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

"There were certain areas of that game (last year's qualifying final) which were outstanding in terms of hardness at the footy and putting enormous pressure on the Bulldogs side when they had the ball," he said.

"If we can mirror those type of performances and efforts then we give ourselves a real good chance."

"We know we are capable of beating this side if we apply ourselves in the right manner in those areas of the game."

"We haven't been able to maintain that type of consistency in our game, in those areas of the game, for long enough periods to give ourselves a chance to win games consistently. But we know we are capable of doing it."

"Our form for the best part of the season hasn't been near the level we know we're capable of. We know that over the course of the last nine rounds of the season we need to improve to be able to get ourselves into the eight."

"We're sitting just outside at the moment and current form would suggest we're going to need to get a wriggle on otherwise we run the risk of not being there when it matters most."

The Hawks have beaten just one top-eight team so far this season - Carlton in Round 6 and that was by just four points after Brendan Fevola hit the post inside the final minute of the match.

This week's clash against the third-placed Bulldogs - who are coming off four consecutive victories - could 'bring out the best in us', Clarkson said, adding that another loss would not necessarily spell the end of the club's premiership defence.

"All we know is that if we do win it gives us a better chance of playing in September and if we lose it makes it more difficult," he said.

Clarkson said livewire Cyril Rioli would return to the side in a 'week or two', while Trent Croad has stepped up his training and could be available by the end of the month.