HAWTHORN Coach Alastair Clarkson is unsure when star forward Lance Franklin will return.

The Hawks star was a late withdrawal from last weekend’s game against Port Adelaide with knee soreness and hasn’t been selected for Saturday’s clash against the Bulldogs in Tasmania.

Speaking from Melbourne Airport on Friday morning before boarding a flight to Launceston, Clarkson revealed the Club is unsure when Franklin will return.

Hawthorn were optimistic of Franklin’s availability this weekend, hopeful the swelling behind his knee would settle and allow him to train fully in the lead up to the Round 17 clash.

“We’re not really certain to this point,” he said.

“He’s had two before that have settled really quickly and he’s been able to play that week and we thought that was going to be the case last week, but he wasn’t able to get up.

“It still hasn’t really fixed itself up this week, either.

“We’re hopeful it’s going to be pretty quick but we just don’t know.

“He’s just got a bit of swelling and bleeding that’s gone down into his calf so hopefully that settles over the weekend and he’s right to train next week.”

Franklin was confident of making a return for the Hawks against the Bulldogs after having scans on his sore knee on Monday.

Cyril Rioli, who injured his ankle in last Saturday’s win over the Power boarded the flight to Tasmania.

Brad Sewell, named as an emergency for Saturday’s clash after being omitted last week also boarded the flight but Clarkson said he is “unlikely” to play unless there’s a mishap in the pre-game warm up.