HAWTHORN has regained superstar Cyril Rioli and expects to bring back injured dynamo Paul Puopolo next week before the run home to finals, coach Alastair Clarkson says.
Rioli comes in for last week's debutant Blake Hardwick in the only change to the side that overcame a dogged Carlton by 19 points in Launceston, ahead of a clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.
Match preview: Melbourne v Hawthorn
Puopolo, who has booted 29 goals this season, will miss his second match in a row after a hip complaint.
"Unfortunately, Poppy's hip is just grumbling along," Clarkson said on Friday.
"We're reasonably certain he'll play next week, but we were reasonably certain this time last week too that he was going to play in this game. So he'll have one more week."
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The League-leading Hawks are searching for their 10th straight win on Saturday to maintain their two-game buffer at the top.
The young Demons face a tough assignment to break a winless 13-game hoodoo against the three-time defending premiers, stretching back to 2006, although Clarkson is wary of Paul Roos' improving side.
"If we allow them to play their best footy they're going to really challenge us," Clarkson said.
"We've played some really good footy against this side over a long period of time, but they're probably the best equipped of all that time to put in a good showing."
The Hawks defeated the Demons by 20 points in a hard-fought round 11 battle, without skipper Luke Hodge, while Melbourne was missing tough nut Jack Viney (broken hand).
"He's a key part of the connection with (ruckman Max) Gawn in the middle of the ground, so that makes a bit of a difference to them," Clarkson said.
"There's a lot of things to be impressed with the way Melbourne's going about it.
"They're starting to put together some young guys who are all coming through together and they're going to be a strong side in the years to come."
With four games to go before finals, the Hawks are in an envious position with a dwindling injury list.
Tackling machine Liam Shiels (hamstring) could be back next week alongside Puopolo, while tall forward Ryan Schoenmakers (groin) and Matt Spangher (hamstring) are also on the verge of returning from long stints on the sidelines.
