The Hawthorn match committee will be dictated largely by the words of the medical staff this week with a number of players under injury clouds heading into our Easter Monday clash.
James Frawley is the sole confirmed absentee to this point, with the key defender suffering a hamstring injury that is set to sideline him for three weeks.
Jaeger O’Meara was given until the 11th hour to prove his fitness for the Round 4 match-up with St Kilda but was ultimately taken out of the side as he failed to overcome a hip complaint.
With the Hawks midfield stocks already depleted, O’Meara would be a welcome addition back into the side.
If the Hawks opt for a like-for-like replacement for Frawley, Kaiden Brand figures as the man most likely to step up, with the 25-year-old having put together some strong form in the VFL in recent weeks.
The Hawks defensive stocks may take a further hit if captain Ben Stratton is unable to recover in time to take on the Cats after he suffered a concussion against the Saints.
Among those who may also be considered this week, Mitch Lewis, Teia Miles and recent debutant Dylan Moore have been thereabouts in selected squads of previous rounds.
Jackson Ross is another who has been in impressive form of late, kicking eight goals in the opening two weeks of the VFL season for Box Hill.
Yet to debut, if Ross continues this level of potency, it will be difficult to deny him an opportunity.
