TRIPLE premiership player James Kelly believes Geelong has plenty to prove when it takes on Hawthorn at the MCG on Easter Monday.

The Cats beat the Hawks in 11 consecutive matches between round one, 2009 and round 15, 2013.

But since the 'Kennett Curse' was broken in the 2013 preliminary final, Alastair Clarkson's men have taken the upper hand in the rivalry.

Although Geelong won last year's first encounter between the teams, the Hawks prevailed in round 22 and in the second qualifying final.

"I think Hawthorn are a better side than us," Kelly said at Simonds Stadium on Friday.

"It's hard to sort of put a finger on what it is. They've just had the better of us the last few times.

"They're a fantastic side but we'll always be confident when we go and play not only Hawthorn but anyone.

"We'll take it as it comes on Monday."

Kelly isn't reading too much into the Hawks' performances in the NAB Challenge, during which they lost to Collingwood in Tasmania and North Melbourne in Shepparton, then thrashed St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

"A lot of good sides, Hawthorn obviously included in that, hold a bit back during the pre-season," Kelly said. "They play a lot of young guys who are still cutting their teeth a bit.

"It's really hard to take too much out of the NAB Challenge. We look at it a little bit, and I know ourselves we hold stuff back and I think that's the smart thing to do.

"But round one, all bets are off. I think you get a good indication as to where the sides are probably by round six or seven."

The Cats are set to unleash draftees Nakia Cockatoo and Cory Gregson against the Hawks, and Kelly is excited about the impact the youngsters can have on the game.

"Those guys have been fantastic," he said. "Can't fault them the whole pre-season.

"Gregson's just a really hard worker and a good kid, and Cocky's the same.

"He just loves footy. He loves being around the place. We do our warm-up laps and every time he's having shots from the boundary and laughing.

"It's great to see, especially for guys like me at the end of their careers. You sort of forget sometimes how fun football can be for a young player."

Kelly will spent more in the midfield this season after playing mostly as a defender last year, and he is very happy with the change.

"You can get a bit lonely down back sometimes," he said. "It gets a bit boring.

"And [last season] I had to play on quick small guys, which isn't really my strength. So back up in the midfield is more fun."