ADELAIDE'S forward line will still pose a danger in the absence of injured star Taylor Walker, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has warned.

The Hawks flew to Adelaide on Friday in preparation for their clash with a Crows team weakened by a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament rupture to their spearhead.

But Clarkson said Walker's replacement Shaun McKernan should not be treated lightly.

"Any coach will tell you that crisis creates opportunity," Clarkson said at Melbourne airport.

"Taylor is a very, very good player so we're obviously aware that him being out of the side helps us a little bit, but McKernan is a very good player who has been just waiting for his chance.

"He kicked five in the SANFL last week, so we're expecting him to come in and be a pretty formidable opponent."

Clarkson said McKernan's ability to play through the ruck would provide his Adelaide counterpart Brenton Sanderson with added options
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"We've just got to make sure we defend the way we've defended all year, no matter who the opponent is," Clarkson said.

"Walker is such a huge presence for them, but McKernan is a big boy.

"He and the big fella [Josh] Jenkins give them a bit more flexibility in what they do with the ruck, too.

"They can take Jacobs forward a little bit more often than they have in the past.

"So we've just got to be prepared for all those things."

Hawthorn has suffered an injury blow of its own with Cyril Rioli to be sidelined for at least seven weeks with a hamstring strain.

He joins defenders Ryan Schoenmakers and Matt Suckling, who have both gone down with season-ending knee injuries in the past two months, on the sidelines.

"Cyril is a special player for us but injuries happen in this game," Clarkson said.

"We've lost Schoenmakers and had to replace him, and the same with Suckling, and we'll miss Cyril for a patch of games now as well.
"That's why you're glad you've got 46 guys on your list.

"Cyril missing will hurt us, but every side cops injuries at some stage of the year and you've just got to make do with what you've got when you miss those guys."

The Hawks have been bolstered, however, by the return of midfielder Brad Sewell from the hamstring strain he suffered against West Coast in round two.

Clarkson admitted his team had missed Sewell's "presence and grunt" during last week's three-point win over North Melbourne, where they were beaten convincingly in contested possession, clearances and inside 50s.

"It says something about our group that we still found a way to win but I'm not too confident that if all the stats are like that this week, that we'll get over the line against the Crows," the Hawthorn coach said.

"So we've got to make sure we're a bit more competitive in that area of the game."