HAWTHORN Coach Alastair Clarkson concedes the pre-season competition is a testing time for AFL clubs, but not because of win/loss ratio.

The Hawks boss believes interchange constraints placed on clubs during rounds two and three of the pre-season competition put players’ preparations for Round 1 in jeopardy.

Concerned for the welfare of his playing group, Clarkson says the limits put the players at greater risk of injury.

“We just know with the harder grounds and the players have been training for so long that they’re quick and they’re fit and they’re eager to get into footy,” he told SEN radio.

“It’s just a dangerous time and if you look at stats from the last six to eight years, the early part of the season is always the most dangerous time for players and more serious injuries, particularly knees.

“There’s not a hell of a lot you can do about it but just pray and hope for the best that it’s not one of your players who have had a really good pre-season.”

As part of the NAB Cup’s trial rules, clubs are permitted three interchange players and one substitute player on the interchange but, rotations are capped at 20 interchanges per quarter.

Clarkson says the trial rule puts the management of senior and more experienced players to the test, given fitness staff often manage their workload.

The welfare, preparation and fitness of his players is of the utmost importance.

“You’ve got guys that might be playing their first games in NAB two and three and because of the constraints they’re going to be forced by those constraints to maybe play 80 per cent game time when really you only want to play them for one or two quarters,” Clarkson said.

“It’s really difficult over the next few weeks, the whole priority for preparation for Round 1 is game time and the welfare of the players, not wins or losses and I think that goes for all 18 clubs.

“There’s just some more significant constraints this year that’s going to make it pretty testing for coaches (and fitness staff) in the way they manage their players.

“But it’s also very testing for the players themselves.”

Hawthorn open its pre-season campaign against Gold Coast and Brisbane at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

While the Hawks coach says his team is well prepared, they’ll be put to the test as they become accustomed once again to the pace and physicality of AFL football.

“We’re travelling okay, the big test though is going to come in the next four to six weeks, not just for Hawthorn but for every club,” he said.

“It’s a treacherous time of the year really with players, big strong bodies have been training for four or so months and it’s a big risk for all players the next six to eight weeks just to get conditioned to play four full quarters of AFL footy.

“It’s a dangerous time in terms of injury but we’re well prepared and looking forward to the season starting.”