KEY forward Jack Gunston is expected to be available in Round 1, despite battling a shin injury in recent weeks.
Gunston spent most of last week in a moon boot, but the Hawks expect he will be fit and firing for Round 1 against Geelong on Easter Monday.
GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan said the Hawks would take a conservative approach to the triple premiership player's recovery.
He told the Herald Sun that Gunston would not play in Saturday's NAB Challenge match against Richmond.
But the 24-year-old is likely to play in the Hawks' final NAB Challenge match, against North Melbourne, in a fortnight's time.
"It's not serious; it's just a minor shin issue we are trying to settle down before the season starts," Fagan explained to the Herald Sun.
"He won't miss Round 1 or anything like that.
"We are just trying to get him right for the season."
Gunston, who was the leading goal-kicker for the Hawks in 2015, is making solid progress with his recovery.
"He will build up his running this week and then build up his skills next week," Fagan said.
"We have got two weeks between NAB Two and NAB Three, so he should be right for that game (against North).
"We expect him to play in NAB Three."
LATEST NEWS
The importance of a good signature
Dimma's Diary: My first community camp
