HAWTHORN will make a decision on whether Jack Gunston and Sam Mitchell face Essendon later today.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said the club had to be careful with certain players’ workloads coming off a short break between games, but was optimistic about Mitchell and Gunston’s availability.

“We’re hoping (they’ll play). Gunston’s training today. We’ve had a six-day break and a couple of sore boys,” he said.

“Mitch (Sam Mitchell) has been a bit sore this week so he won’t train today and we’ll make a decision on whether he plays or not this afternoon and the same with Jack.”

Clarkson said the Hawks wouldn’t be wrapping players in cotton wool ahead of their clash with the Bombers, who are stuck on the bottom of the ladder with just one win so far in 2016.

“We’re not wrapping any in cotton wool – if they’re fit to play they’re playing,” he said.

“If they’re not, it’s just like guys are sore from the previous week – it’s a six-day break, Essendon are coming off a six-day break themselves so (players missing games) happens this time of year.

“It’s a big campaign, but if they’re available to play they’ll play. We’ve just got a couple of boys in Mitchell and Gunston who we just have to monitor over the next 24 hours.”

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge is also tracking well on return from a knee injury, but Clarkson ruled him out of taking the field this week.

“He’s been training particularly well – he’s into ball work this week and we’ve gone on record in saying he needs to do a really good block of training,” he said.

“He could be available next week, but we just want to make sure we put a really good period of training into him.”

“Hodgey’s been unfortunately riddled with two injuries which have made it difficult to get the continuity which he would like and the training he would like.”

“We’ll just make sure he’s got some good training in and (his return) is more likely to be the Gold Coast game or even after the bye.”