The Power has successfully exposed opponents with its spread and hard-running under Ken Hinkley this season, but Lewis said the Hawks had a simple counter measure.

“The ball obviously doesn’t get on the outside unless you win it on the inside,” he told the AFL website at the All-Australian team announcement on Tuesday.

“We understand you need to kick a score to win, but you also need to restrict the opposition.

“It’s going to be a really tight contest and I think historically finals may not have been played as outside as the ones we’ve seen so far, but we expect it to be a brutal contest.”

Lewis, among a host of first-time members in the All-Australian squad, enters the preliminary final on the back of a career-best season.

The Warrnambool export has averaged almost 28 disposals per match to emerge as a premier ball winner beside  teammates Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.

Hodge is the Hawthorn captain, with Mitchell his predecessor.

But Lewis said there was no certainties he would be the next Hawk to take on the role, with forward Jarryd Roughead also in the frame. The pair are both 200-gamers.

“I always think if he (Hodge) is ready to give up that position, there’s probably a few candidates that would certainly put their hand up,” Lewis said.

“Me being one and Roughie being the other. But I think if something’s not broke then probably don’t fix it and that’s probably the way it is at the moment.

“Whether or not (Hodge) wants to enjoy the last few years of his football without that extra responsibility, that’s probably a decision he will make.

“But when the time comes, you never know.”

Lewis could not say whether Hawthorn would include Cyril Rioli for the preliminary final. The crafty forward has not played since round 15 due to a hamstring injury.

“I think as a side we’re really well-placed in terms of we’re not screaming out for Cyril,” Lewis said.

“It would be great to have him if he comes up this week, but if he doesn’t we’ve got two or three people that can come in and fill a spot.

“Matt Suckling’s one that probably could have played last week, but they chose not to play him and he’s a high possibility to come in this week.”