DEFENDER Grant Birchall will definitely be available to face Essendon on Saturday afternoon.
 
GM Football Operations Chris Fagan said the 27-year-old was finally over a niggling ankle injury which has kept him out of the Hawks’ past three matches.
 
“We’ve thought a few times that Birch was going to be right, but he definitely is (now),” he said.
 
“He’s trained well this week, he’s actually been able to get about 10 good days of training under his belt, so we believe he’s ready to be available again for selection.”
 
Fagan said he was confident tall forward Jack Gunston would also play, despite dislocating a finger in last week’s win against the Crows.
 
“He’s been able to train a bit this week – I guess the true test will come on Thursday, whether he’s comfortable marking the ball, picking the ball up, handballing and all those sorts of things,” he said.
 
“We’re pretty confident he’ll be okay.”
 
Angus Litherland was a late withdrawal from the Box Hill Hawks side which defeated Williamstown on Sunday due to a back injury, but will also be available for selection.