While some players might feel daunted about taking on their former side, Lance Franklin said he can’t wait to face the Hawks at the MCG on Saturday night.

Franklin, who took on Hawthorn for the first time in round eight at ANZ Stadium, will face his former team mates in Melbourne for the first time since making the move to the Swans this season.

Not one to be nervous or intimidated by a big challenge, Franklin told SwansTV he couldn’t be more ready for this weekend’s huge clash with the Hawks.

“I’m excited and it’s going to be an unbelievable game,” he said.

“Both teams have been playing some pretty good football and Hawthorn has been in some really good form and we have been playing some pretty good football too.

“It will be two great sides going at it and it’s going to be a really good spectacle for the fans of both clubs and hopefully we can get a win.”

Franklin was influential for the Swans the last time the club met the Hawks, with ‘Buddy’ picking up 21 possessions, four tackles and kicking two important second-half goals.

This week, Franklin’s likely match up will be Josh Gibson, who has been sidelined with a pectoral injury since the Swans’ last clash with the Hawks in round eight.

Franklin said he had plenty of experience against Gibson, and said he was ready for the challenge on Saturday night.

“I lined up on him in round eight and I’ve lined up on him when he was in his North Melbourne days so we’ve played against each other a fair bit and did in a pre-season game too when I was at the Hawks,” Franklin said.

“We’ve played on each other a bit so I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m not too sure whether he goes to me or to someone else, but there’s no doubt that there will be a little bit of chatter out on the field, but I’ll just be focused on playing my role for the footy club.”

The match will also mark a special occasion for Franklin’s great mate Jarryd Roughead, who will celebrate his 200^th game on Saturday night.

Franklin said he was excited to be able to share the moment with ‘Roughie’, even though he will be in opposition colours.

“It’s going to be a little different,” he said.

“I spoke to him the other day and wished him luck and will obviously say congratulations after the game.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the next chapter of his career and I’m just looking forward to seeing his career blossom.”

After nine years at the Hawks, Franklin admitted that there could be a little bit of “extra feeling” for him on Saturday night, but stressed that he was focused on helping the Swans to their thirteenth-straight victory.

“I think there will be a bit of emotion out there but it’s something that I’m looking forward to and I’m excited by it,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get out there and hopefully have a good win.

“It’s a massive game for us and you always want to have that momentum and have good form going into the back end of the season.

“We’re just taking it one week at a time, but you don’t get a bigger challenge than playing Hawthorn at the MCG on a Saturday night.

“We’re looking forward to it as a footy club and I think everyone is really excited by it.”