James Sicily is "more likely than unlikely" to play in this Saturday's pivotal clash with Fremantle, with the Hawthorn skipper recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in the Round 16 win over West Coast.
Key forward Calsher Dear is in the same category of likelihood despite sore ribs, as both will undergo Thursday testing before selection.
Star recruit Jack Ginnivan will also have a fitness test on his knee after a hairline fracture was revealed. Coach Sam Mitchell says it's not as bad as it sounds.
"When they say fracture, you're horrified... but it's a non-weight bearing bone. So it's not six-to-10 weeks or anything like that, it's one-to-two," the Hawthorn coach revealed.
"He can sort of run in a straight line and feel okay, but changing direction is causing some trouble."
On Sicily's testing, Mitchell shared that "aย lot of his is around confidence and static strength. They do these boring little tests that look like nothing but gives you a good measure of stability of the shoulder."
"I'll trust the physios and the doctors if they say he's available then he'll play, if they he's not, he might be grumpy, and he won't."
Mitch Lewis' brutal season-ender against Geelong has provided some headaches for the Hawks for the back-end of the season, though some young guns at the lower level may be given a chance to shine in the senior squad as a result.
"He's (Lewis) one of those guys who was always in our planning and now, to have him out of the plan for an extended period has caused us a little bit of a challenge," the coach added.
On mid-season key forward recruit Jasper Scaife, Mitchell said the 196 cm 19-year-old has impressed in the VFL, and that "he's a chance in the right time, whether that's this week or in the coming weeks."
21-year-old Max Ramsden is another key forward in the frame to replace Lewis, Mitchell adding "he's been excellent... (so) we've got some options."
Veteran small forward Chad Wingard is also not too far from AFL selection having recovered from his calf injury.
As a former assistant to ousted coach Adam Simpson, Sam Mitchell shared his thoughts on the media storm following his 11-year tenure and subsequent departure, revealing he isย "a bit disappointed" in the coverage.
He is, however, confident that he'll move on without much fuss and would be a suitable fit to return to the AFL landscape when he feels right to do so.
"I'm enormously grateful for what he's done in my career and some of the lessons that he taught me," the ex-Eagles assistant said.
"I feel for him... (but) I'm not concerned for his future, he's got a great family, great person, he'll get through this without too many scratches I'd imagine."
"I think Simmo's got a great footy mind. There's not many premiership coaches out there... he's got one of the great resumes.
"He'll come back to footy when the time is right for him."
