With the Hawks ready to take on West Coast on Saturday, hawthornfc.com.au looks at the five key players who could impact the result.

1.Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
While it might be unfair to label Rioli one of the Hawks’ most important players in his first game back from injury, the reality remains that he’s one of Hawthorn’s most important players.

During his three-week layoff with a hamstring injury, the Hawks lacked their usual polish with ball in hand and were crying out for someone of his class both with the ball and without it.

Rioli is one of the most damaging players without the ball, able to change the momentum of the game with a chase-down tackle but what the Hawks have missed is his electric pace and evasion up forward.

When he gets it, Rioli uses the ball with precision and lifts his teammates just by being in the vicintity. Before injury, Rioli lit up the Hawks against the Tigers with four goals in a quarter and again against the Saints the following week as the Hawks appeared unstoppable.

He has said he’s ready to make an impact both on the offensive and defence, and the Eagles and probably small defender Jamie Bennell will be ready for him.

2. Dean Cox (West Coast)
Most of the interest in the Eagles’ ruck duo is in Cox’s teammate Nic Naitanui because of his ability to pull off the spectacular, but Cox is the backbone of his side with his consistency of performance his biggest asset.

Still one of the game’s best ruckman, Cox will be looking to expose Hawthorn’s experienced ruck pair Jonathon Ceglar and debutant Luke Lowden both in the ruck duel and also in his ability to push forward and kick goals.

Cox is averaging 23.6 hit outs per game this season along with 15.4 disposals and 2.1 clearances. He has also kicked six goals.

But the Eagles big man seems to love playing against the Hawks and using his size to dominate. He averages 25.8 hit outs in 17 games against the Hawks, his third-best record against all clubs and 15.8 disposals.

3. Matt Priddis (West Coast)
All signs indicate the Eagles’ workhorse is primed to churn out another bold performance against the Hawks on Saturday.

The Hawks seem to be Priddis’ favourite team to play against, with his statistical output against the Hawks superior to his record against any other team in the competition.

Renowned for his grunt work, the 29 year-old averages 29.1 disposals, 13.6 contested possessions, 7.2 tackles and 6.7 clearances in his 11 games against the Hawks.

In his two games against the Hawks last year, he produced a combined 53 disposals, 33 contested possessions, 15 tackles and 21 clearances.

Priddis has also been in scintillating form of late, boasting an average of 31 disposals, 17.7 contested possessions, 8 tackles and 8.3 clearances in his past three games. He has also contributed a rare five goals during this period.

With the Eagles ranked 16^th in the league for clearances this season – compared to the Hawks who rank first – they will struggle to match the Hawks in this key indicator if Priddis’ influence can be nullified.

4. Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
If Priddis is important for the Eagles then Lewis is equally as important for the Hawks. Like Priddis, the Hawthorn vice-captain is a workhorse in the midfield and is having one of the best seasons of his career, ranked number one at the Hawks for disposals, contested possessions and clearances.

In Sam Mitchell’s absence, Lewis has stepped into the dominant midfield position and carried his team along with fellow midfielder Shaun Burgoyne. But, in Lewis’ absence against the Giants last week, the Hawks struggled in the midfield and were eventually beaten in the clearances, the area which just happens to be Lewis’s best in 2014.

Priddis and Lewis could go head-to-head around the ground but in the Hawk’s favour is his ability to also win the ball on the outside and penetrate the 50. Lewis averages 16.2 uncontested possessions this season and is ranked fifth at the Hawks for inside 50s.

He also kicked two goals in quick succession in his last outing, his 38-disposal effort in the loss to Port Adelaide.

Lewis enjoys playing the Eagles too, averaging 22.6 disposals and 3.7 clearances against them in 14 games.

5. Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Dead-eye Jack continues to stake his claim as the most accurate set shot in the competition, with his four goals straight instrumental in last week’s win against the Giants.

Gunston has only played the Eagles three times while wearing the brown and gold – twice in his inaugural year in 2012, and then again in the most recent encounter between the clubs in Round 13 last year.

In that game, Gunston booted five goals in the 20-point win, while also gathering 17 disposals with three of his four marks clunked inside 50.

With former Hawks assistant Adam Simpson now at the helm of the Eagles, the opposition are well aware of the damage Gunston can cause with his deadly right boot. He is likely to have his work cut out for him on Saturday and looms as a key player in the outcome of the match.