HAWTHORN defender Grant Birchall has been ruled out of the club's round one clash against Collingwood at the MCG as he continues his recovery from a persistent knee injury.

Birchall underwent a posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in August last year, but a pre-Christmas arthroscope on his troublesome right knee set his pre-season back further.

Football manager Graham Wright said the Hawks were confident the four-time premiership player would be available in the early rounds, but they would not push him to be fit for round one.

"He is ruled out for round one," Wright told Fairfax Media.

"We're basically going to see how he progresses in the next four-to-six weeks."

Birchall played just five games last season and was unable to overcome persistent soreness in his knee, with the Hawks choosing to end his season early and bring forward PCL surgery.

That decision was designed to give the 30-year-old close to a full pre-season, with a modified program early, but the follow-up arthroscope was an unforeseen hurdle.

"(There was) a bit of crappy stuff and a bit of swelling in the front of my knee, so I went and cleaned that up and I'm feeling pretty good at the moment," Birchall told the club's website last month.

"It will probably be a couple of weeks out, but I'm glad it's done now – it needed to be done.

"I'm on a modified program, and hopefully all being well I will be able to run towards the end of the month."