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AFL: Hawthorn have moved to the top of the ladder with a 26-point win over the Gold Coast Suns.

Hawks Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell are on song. Picture: Getty Images

FOUR-TIME premiership player Jordan Lewis knows Hawthorn will lose top spot if Sydney beats Western Bulldogs on Saturday, but he doesn’t seem too bothered.

“You certainly don’t want to peak too early,” the 254-game veteran said.

The Hawks go into this weekend’s bye on a five-game winning streak.

“It’s always nice to head into the bye off a win and sit on top of the ladder,” he said.

“We understand it’s probably not going to survive past this weekend if Sydney have a good win.

“We’re in a really good position. We probably haven’t played our best football for the majority of the year, but we still managed to get to halfway at 11-3. That’s where we want to be.”

The Hawks have won three consecutive flags, but were minor premiers only in 2013.

“We always strive to make the top four and we look like we’re in a good position to do that with about eight rounds to go,” Lewis, 30, said.

“There’s a lot of improvement (to come).”

James Sicily and Tim O’Brien have gained valuable experience after the Hawks were forced to restructure their attack due to key forward Jarryd Roughead’s cancer battle.

“I would imagine in the back half of the season they’re only going to become better players,” Lewis said.

“If we can get the majority of the players on track … and these players are playing well at the end of the season, we give ourselves a good chance.”