  We analyze the production of $\phi$ mesons in $\pi N$ and NN reactions in the
near-threshold region, using throughout the conventional ``non-strange''
dynamics based on such processes which are allowed by the non-ideal
$\omega-\phi$ mixing. We show that the occurrence of the direct $\phi NN$
interaction may show up in different unpolarized and polarization observables
in $\pi N\to N\phi$ reactions. We find a strong non-trivial difference between
observables in the reactions $pp\to pp\phi$ and $pn\to pn\phi$ caused by the
different role of the spin singlet and triplet states in the entrance channel.
A series of predictions for the experimental study of this effect is presented.
