There’s a bit of tongue-in-cheek about Lloyd Meek when he says he hopes Fremantle fans won’t boo him, but surely only the most cold-hearted would do so.

Stuck behind more established Dockers ruckmen, Meek left Western Australia three years ago in search of opportunity and has thrived under Sam Mitchell’s tutelage at Hawthorn.

Fresh off outpointing St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall, the 27-year-old next faces a familiar foe when he takes on former Dockers teammate Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

“I haven’t played Freo in Perth since my first year (at Hawthorn), so it will be good,” Meek told AAP.

“It’s always good to come up against some old mates and they’ve had a really good patch of form, so I’m looking forward to a good battle.

“Hopefully I don’t get booed.”

Meek managed just 15 senior games in five years at Fremantle, and has since added a further 52 with Hawthorn.

The 203cm tap specialist said he will lean on versatile Hawks teammates Mabior Chol and Conor Nash for extra assistance in the battle with Darcy and athletic “freak” Jackson.

“I’m eager for the challenge,” Meek said.

“They’re both very good rucks and have been for a long time, and Sean’s in some form now.

“Jackson is obviously a freak with what he can do, so I’ll do my homework and prep and come with my game-day boots on.

“It’s about grit and mental toughness and covering those extra k’s, which is something I’ve worked on, then trying to do my best work around the ball and the aerial stuff.”

Meek admitted Hawthorn would have to improve their contest and stoppage work after a scrappy 20-point win over St Kilda, with Fremantle clearance star Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw set to test their wares.

Both Hawthorn (11-5, fifth) and Fremantle (10-6, ninth) are in a log-jam of teams vying for best position on the finals starting grid ahead of their high-stakes clash.

The Hawks are on a four-match winning streak, but have plenty of room for improvement.

“As is the way in any elite sporting environment, you can never get comfortable,” Meek said.

“We’re never going to sit back and say, ‘We’re in a good spot, let’s put the cue in the rack.’

“We’ve got to keep being ruthless with each other and keep driving standards through the week.

“We’re in a good spot but we’re not going to rest.”

The Hawks have recalled teen forward Calsher Dear after his injury struggles, with Finn Maginness also back to replace Max Ramsden and Seamus Mitchell.

Fremantle lost skipper Alex Pearce (soreness) and dropped Neil Erasmus, with Oscar McDonald and Sam Switkowski recalled.