MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 04: Max Gawn of the Demons and Jonathon Ceglar of the Hawks compete for the ball during the round 11 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and Melbourne Demons at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 4, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Hawthorn will welcome back at least three players for its clash with North Melbourne on Friday night.

Midfielder Sam Mitchell (back) and defender Taylor Duryea (hip) have overcome the injuries which forced them to miss last week's win over Essendon and are considered certain starters for the match with the league leaders at Etihad Stadium.

Ruckman Jon Ceglar will also return after serving his one-game suspension.

The Hawks could also add some more tall timber to their line-up to combat North's tall forward line of Ben Brown, Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite.

Young key defender Kaiden Brand is next in line to receive a possible call up should Clarkson feel another big man will be beneficial against the Kangaroos. Brand has played two games so far this season and was named as an emergency last week.

Hawthorn is currently fifth on the ladder, equal on wins with the Cats, Swans and Bulldogs and just one win behind the Roos.

[polldaddy poll=9446190]

Comments are closed.