Essendon on-baller Zach Merrett has responded to former coach James Hird’s glowing appraisal of the Bombers.

Hird said on his podcast that if his old side reaches the finals it will win the premiership, and while Merrett played down those suggestions, he admitted it was encouraging to receive such a positive evaluation from the club champion.

“It’s obviously nice to hear a bit of good feedback outside the footy club that they see that we’re playing a certain way that’s going to stand up in big games and finals footy,” Merrett said on Wednesday.

“(Hird is) a former superstar of the club and former coach and someone who I spent one year with.

“But ultimately he’s just a fan and someone who observes footy these days. It is nice for him to say those words, though.”

While the Bombers effectively need to win Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn to stay alive in the race for a finals berth, Merrett said the team’s preparation remains the same.

“Pretty similar to the last 10 weeks really, just going about the way we’re trying to improve as a team and I guess results will take care of themselves if we play the right way,” he said.

“It’s been no bigger build up (compared) to any of the other games.”

Essendon is making a late charge towards the top eight after scoring wins in eight of its last 10 matches, and Merrett said the side is now used to the high stakes its repeatedly played for in recent months.

“We’ve been playing elimination finals for 10 weeks now. Every week we go in trying to improve, but knowing that we do need to win every game to give ourselves the best chance to play finals.

“Every week is just throwing everything at the opposition and hoping we get the four points.”

The midfielder said the team’s impressive form turnaround can be traced back to some important decisions following its disappointing loss to Carlton in round eight.

“I think during that week after Carlton, obviously a lot of questions were raised,” Merrett said.

“But as a playing group and as coaches we really highlighted our defence and wanted to be the most ruthless defence in the competition.

“We realise that’s something that’s built over four or five years, not four or five weeks, so that’s something we’re really focusing on and have for those the last 10 weeks.”

Essendon captain Dyson Heppell played an important role in curbing the influence of Hawks ball magnet Tom Mitchell earlier this year, something Merrett said will be a crucial factor once again on Saturday.

“He (Mitchell) spends a lot of time on the footy, which is great for them because he is such a good ball winner and a good user.

“When we played them earlier in the year they beat us, but I think Hepp played on him and kept him to a relatively low number of possessions, so that might be something we go to.

“Ultimately you have to play as a team to try and stop him and a lot of other good players like Isaac Smith and Jaeger O’Meara as well, we can’t just focus on one player.”

The first bounce on Saturday is set for 1.45pm at the MCG.