HAWTHORN pair Grant Birchall and Matt Spangher are in the mix for a Round 1 berth despite battling injury over the pre-season.

Birchall (knee) and Spangher (calf) won’t feature in the NAB Challenge – with neither selected in the Hawks’ 27-man squad for the final hit-out against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.

The pair also didn’t feature against Collingwood and North Melbourne in the opening pre-season games.

The Hawks open their 2015 campaign in three weeks with a blockbuster Easter Monday clash with Geelong and the pair could still feature in Alastair Clarkson’s Round 1 side.

GM – Football Operations, Chris Fagan said the duo are close to returning.

“Those two boys will be available within the next week,” Fagan told hawthornfc.com.au

Birchall injured the medial ligament in his knee in a training mishap in February, while Spangher has been battling a calf injury.

If the premiership pair, who were vital to the side’s success in 2014, aren’t available for the opening round of the season proper, the Hawks are in the envious position of having a number of replacements at their fingertips.

Recruit James Frawley will fill a key defensive post alongside premiership teammates Brian Lake and Josh Gibson and provide more tall options down back to counter Geelong’s tall forwards, particularly Tom Hawkins and recruit Mitch Clark.

Jonathan O’Rourke, Angus Litherland, Jed Anderson and Billy Hartung, meanwhile have all impressed so far this pre-season and will push their case for a Round 1 spot again in Thursday night’s final pre-season hit-out.

“There’s plenty of heat on for spots,” Fagan said.

“Come Round 1 we hope there’s 28-30 blokes who all have their hand up and we’ve got a hard decision to make.”

Entry into Thursday night’s NAB Challenge match is free for 2015 Hawthorn members.