Alastair Clarkson says Hawthorn won't apologise for playing "hard and ruthless footy" in the wake of suspensions to skipper Luke Hodge and vice-captain Jordan Lewis.

The Hawks travel to face Greater Western Sydney without the pair of leaders on Saturday, with Hodge serving the first of a three-game ban and Lewis rubbed out for two weeks.

Both players were banned for striking in the first quarter of the 60-point win over North Melbourne last Saturday night, when the Hawks came out breathing fire after being jumped early in games this year.

Speaking ahead of his side's round six clash with the Giants, Clarkson said the best teams in history are notorious for their tough streak and he was adamant the Hawks wouldn't soften their physical brand of football.

"Games of footy are pretty ruthless affairs and every team in the competition is trying to start well. We had a couple of our more senior players just go over that line and they've been dealt with the by the system in place," he said at Melbourne Airport.

"We're disappointed not to have those guys but we've got to play tough, hard footy and all the best sides in the competition in the history of the game have played that way.

"So we don't apologise for playing hard and ruthless footy, but we just want to do it within the rules and there were a couple of instances last week where we didn't and we paid the penalty for that."