LUKE Hodge will lead the Hawks in Saturday night’s clash against gold Coast after overcoming a groin injury sustained in Round 2.

The skipper trained on Tuesday and backed that up with a solid session on Thursday afternoon, proving he’s ready to return for the game at Metricon Stadium.

Hodge was injured during the third quarter of the thrilling Round 2 victory over Essendon and was subbed out soon after.

He is the only inclusion for the game against the Suns, with Alastair Clarkson choosing not to tinker too much with the side that defeated Fremantle by 58 points last Friday night.

It means ruckman Ben McEvoy, who was a late withdrawal with a calf injury last Friday night will be given another week to recover.

Angus Litherland is the man to make way for Hodge, omitted from the team after impressing in his first two games at AFL level.

Cult figure Matt Spangher has been named for his second game of the season after returning for last week’s game against the Dockers.

Litherland along with Mitch Hallahan and Derick Wanganeen are the three named emergencies.

Gold Coast v Hawthorn
Saturday 12 April
Metricon Stadium. 7.40pm

FB: Hodge Cheney Mitchell
HB: Burgoyne Gibson Birchall
C: Langford Lewis Smith
HF: Breust Roughead Hill
FF: Gunston Hale Puopolo
FOLL: Ceglar Shiels Rioli
I/C: Spangher Duryea Suckling Simpkin

Emergencies: Hallahan Wanganeen Litherland

In: L.Hodge
Out: A.Litherland (Omitted)