The Magpies dumped Dawes from the side that played Essendon in round 23, forcing captain Nick Maxwell to adopt the unfamiliar role as back-up ruckman to Darren Jolly.
Maxwell said on Tuesday that he had no problem with Dawes coming back in without a match under his belt, but would fit in with whatever set-up the selectors chose to face David Hale and Jarryd Roughead.
Maxwell admitted it was tough playing as second ruck against the Bombers, but he was prepared to carry out the role again this week if needed.
"I've got a bit more respect for Darren Jolly and the boys. It's not something I'm used to," he said.
"I just went in there and competed and did what I was asked to do. It wasn't for too long but we obviously had to give Darren a rest as he couldn't do it all on his own."
The Hawks are firm favourites to win the MCG clash given the Pies' recent form that has seen them win just one game from their past three.
They've also been brought undone by the Hawks twice this year -in round one by 22 points and in round 17 by 47 points.
While Buckley said he understood why questions had been raised over the Pies' form ahead of the finals, his confidence remained intact.
"We're very bullish about our prospects unlike the wider community," he said.
"We won't turn up otherwise. I'm sure Alastair Clarkson will be telling you the game's still to be won, and that's the way we see it.
"There's a lot of questions about your form and rightly, there should be - about our personnel, about our game plan, about the way we play.
"We can talk until we're blue in the face about it but it matters little.
"All that matters is what we do on Friday night."
Buckley said faith in his players made him think they could win straight through to a preliminary final.
"It's mainly in the hearts and minds of the players, and the fact that I have absolute belief in their ability to execute a game plan, to attack an opposition with absolute endeavour in their ferociousness and competitiveness," he said.
"And that they can do that for four quarters.
"We can beat any opposition at any time, and we're pretty confident about our ability to do that on Friday.
"You can only stand on your actions, and we've discussed that right throughout the year. You can only ever be judged on what you do.
"What you say and think and feel are irrelevant, so we'll be judged on what we do, and we'll either succeed or fail on what we do, and that's what September is about."
Tyson Goldsack still needs to prove he is over the ankle he aggravated against Essendon, while Jarryd Blair is expected to be available after missing the weekend's clash with a sore groin.
Buckley said Dale Thomas was "right to go" despite suggestions his ankle was troubling him, and Andrew Krakouer was expected to back up well from his first AFL game after his knee reconstruction.
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
