HAWTHORN will need to be switched on against Essendon this week, says ruckman Ben McEvoy.

With the Hawks sitting in fifth place on the ladder, a win against the undermanned Bombers could push the three-time reigning premiers into the top four for the first time in 2016.

But McEvoy said the Hawks would not be expecting an easy contest.

“Obviously they’re missing a lot of their key personnel, but they’ve certainly been having a crack,” he said today.

“Everyone that’s in there is really keen to go at the contest and have a go, and they’ve been playing some good patches of footy.

“They probably don’t have the cattle on the park unfortunately for them, but the way they’re going about it and some of their ball movement… they’ve been really aggressive with some of it and can really score. No doubt we’ll have to be switched on.

The Hawks will have to get the win without McEvoy’s fellow ruckman Jonathon Ceglar, who has accepted a one-match sanction from the MRP.

McEvoy has spent more time up forward in recent weeks, but would be happy to shoulder more of the ruck load if required.

“It’s unfortunate for Cegs, but he’ll get a nice rest-up. As for what they’ll do with selection, I’m not sure. I’ll just recover, get ready to go for Friday night, and selection will sort that out and we’ll find out on Thursday,” he said.

“I’m happy to play whatever role’s needed for the team, whether that’s a lot of ruck, or I’ve played a little bit more forward in that last couple of weeks.

“If it changes, that doesn’t bother me.”

McEvoy believes that if the Hawks’ opt for a like-for-like replacement for Ceglar, Marc Pittonet would be a likely option.

The 20-year-old debuted against Geelong Cats in Round 1, when Ceglar was a late withdrawal with a back injury, and has since plied his trade at VFL level in 2016.

“I think Pitto played pretty well in the VFL last week and has had a pretty solid year for only a second year player,” McEvoy said.

“He’s been much improved, so it’s been really impressive by him.”