AFTER spending eight weeks out with a hamstring injury, Hawthorn will welcome back gun midfielder Sam Mitchell for tomorrow night’s clash with North Melbourne.

The Hawks have made just one change for tomorrow night’s clash, with Mitchell replacing the injured Cyril Rioli.

Mitchell comes straight back into the Hawthorn side, bypassing a return via VFL affiliate Box Hill after a impressing on the training track this week.

The dual premiership player has been back training for three weeks, with Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson pulling the trigger on his return this week.

Mitchell hasn’t played since Round 7, when he hurt his hamstring against St Kilda at the MCG.

Before the injury, Mitchell averaged 26.5 disposals and picked up 36 disposals on three occasions, against Fremantle, Gold Coast and Richmond.

Ironically, Mitchell replaces Rioli who suffered the same injury that forced him out for two months, injuring his hamstring tendon in the win over Gold Coast last Saturday.

Rioli will miss 8-10 weeks.

Ruckman Jonathon Ceglar has again kept his spot in the side, with recruit ruckman Ben McEvoy named as an emergency for the second week running.

Round 16
North Melbourne v Hawthorn
Friday 4 July
Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm

B: Schoenmakers Lake Stratton
HB: Burgoyne Spangher Birchall
C: Smith Lewis Suckling
HF: Puopolo Gunston Hill
F: Breust Roughead Hale
Foll: Ceglar Hodge Shiels
Int: Litherland Duryea Sewell Mitchell
Emergencies: Ross McEvoy Simpkin

In: S.Mitchell
Out: C.Rioli (Hamstring)