St Kilda and Hawthorn will do battle for the Blue Ribbon Cup to raise awareness of the Blue Ribbon Foundation.

At UTAS Stadium on Friday to promote the match was Blue Ribbon Foundation chief executive Neil Soullier.

Mr Soullier said it was a significant match for the foundation to raise its profile. 

“It rates very highly because it gives widespread awareness right around the country,” he said.

“It sends a powerful message to all our police around Australia and their families and to the public that police work should be valued.”

The foundation remembers police killed in the line of duty and funds raised go towards building emergency facilities in hospitals. 

The facilities are named after fallen officers.

“We call it remembering lives by saving others,” Mr Soullier said. 

“What we’re really acknowledging is not so much how they died but how they lived.” 

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson echoed Mr Soullier’s comments about the cup’s importance. 

“We’ve played this game for many years against the Saints now and we’ve had young Jimmy Miller who has been heavily involved in it obviously as the son of a dad and a policemen who lost his life whilst he was trying to serve his community,” he said.

“We get another chance to battle it out for that cup this week.” 

The match will also promote the Tasmania Police Charity Trust.

Inspector Michael Johnston hoped the match would send the message that police work was vital to the community. 

“For our guys, some of who will be working here tomorrow, to see that message up close and personal will be fantastic,” he said.

The Hawks have won the last 18 games at UTAS Stadium and assistant coach Cameron Bruce said the success gave the side confidence heading into Saturday’s match. 

“It’s definitely reassuring to know we’ve performed well down here and when the game is in the balance, having that confidence and belief to know that we can challenge and get over the line when needed,” he said. 

Bruce was not the only one talking up Hawthorn’s chances of notching a second win for the season, with long-time fan Dale Rigby also confident the Hawks would retain the Blue Ribbon Cup.

Attending the Hawks’ Friday night training session with his family, Mr Rigby said he was backing the Hawks to build on their round five win against West Coast.

“They’ll do it easy I reckon,” he said.

“I (started supporting them) from watching them in the ‘80s winning all the grand finals - they were the masters in the ‘80s.”