MELBOURNE'S All Australian defender Michael Hibberd is certain to play in Friday night's do-or-die semi-final against Hawthorn at the MCG, coach Simon Goodwin says.
Hibberd completed Thursday's training session with no problems after working with the rehab group two days ago and being restricted to running laps.
"He's 100 per cent ready to go. Obviously, on Tuesday he didn't do the full session, he just did some laps," Goodwin told reporters.
"He's had a bit of soreness from the game, so it was just making sure he's 100 per cent. He trained fully today."
The Demons have lost 15 of their past 16 meetings with Alastair Clarkson's Hawks, including a 67-point hiding in wet conditions in round four where they lost the clearances 56-38.
Goodwin gave nothing away with selection, but assuming Melbourne goes with an unchanged line-up, it will field seven different players from that clash.
"It felt like a long time ago, round four, and both teams have obviously changed significantly through that period, so I haven't really looked too much back at it," he said.
"Clearly, we didn't play our best footy that day – it was probably one of our poorer performances – and to Hawthorn's credit, they were outstanding.
"They certainly beat us around the midfield battle, they won clearances, and they dominated the ball, so they're things we know about Hawthorn.
"We know what sort of club they are, we know what sort of character they have and where their strengths lie, but … we really focused on our system, our last month, (and) about what works for us."
The Demons are being billed as this year's fairytale story, after busting their 11-season finals drought before comfortably accounting for Geelong in last week's elimination final.
They've done little as a club to quieten the external hype, and Goodwin said that was by design, but dismissed any chance of his players getting complacent with their success.
"We've wanted to take our supporters on a journey and on this pathway to where we want to be, and as I've said for a while now, they've suffered a lot of misery," the coach said.
"This is a chance for them to really embrace our footy club and embrace their team and get in behind their team and inspire them.
"The noise coming out of the MCG last Friday was unbelievable from the players' perspective and the club, and we want them all to rock up again and give us that excitement again."
Goodwin said his players were doing everything possible to extend their September ride after only four started the post-season with previous finals experience.
"There's a sense they want more, and that's our challenge as a club and a footy team and footy department," he said.
"When you have that (finals) experience and you handle it well, and you see the rewards on the back of it, you want more.
"So that's our challenge tomorrow night, to come out there and play with that same intensity and same want and will and desire, and really establish our brand in the game and the way the game should look early."
