Hawthorn Coach Alastair Clarkson says the playing group is champing at the bit to transition into contact training next week.

Having been split into groups of six to eight this week, the squad has had a gradual progression back into the program after nearly two months of training separately.

The four-time premiership coach suggested the players had missed having contact drills within their training over the past two months.  

"I'd reckon they can't wait - there's been very little contact for a very long time," Clarkson said. 

"They're competitive beasts, that's why they play this great game of ours so they're looking forward to a bit of physical stuff next week.

"That's probably the sort of stuff they haven't been able to replicate in any of their training over the last six to eight weeks so i think, across the league, they'll be pretty fit these lads but it's the combative stuff that we need to pick up pretty quickly over the next two or three weeks.

"Having four of five contact sessions in the lead-up to Round 2 will at least allow us to prepare for what we might face." 

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With Hawthorn's injury list comprising of just five players currently, Clarkson said the time off had provided all clubs an opportunity to strengthen the health of their respective lists.

But he did concede that clubs ought to be wary of the potential dangers of ramping up contested work again. 

"The beauty of all clubs at the moment is that we all have pretty healthy lists.

"But once we go back into some combative-type exercises, you'd expect there is going to be some injuries.

"It's a collision sport, you know there's going to be some effects because of that but we will just try manage things as best as we possibly can.

"But there is a challenge for all clubs in that regard."