ALASTAIR Clarkson would be "really surprised" if Cyril Rioli didn't play next week but stopped short of guaranteeing him a senior berth against Geelong next Saturday night.

The Hawks boarded a flight bound for Launceston minus Rioli on Saturday morning, with Clarkson admitting he had flirted with the idea of bringing his star straight back in for the game against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.

Rioli has not played since suffering a high-grade hamstring tear against North Melbourne in round five.

"If you saw him train throughout the course of the week, you'd be saying, 'Why isn't he playing?' Clarkson said.

"He trained really well last week in preparation for the West Coast Eagles game (in round 13) and we could have nearly selected him for that game, but we chose not to."

Clarkson said the decision was made to allow Rioli at least another week of intense training on the track.

"We just feel like, if he gets two to three weeks of flat-out training under his belt, then he's going to be right to go," Clarkson said.

"I'd be really surprised if he didn't play next week, but we might even leave him out for one more, but we'll make that determination next week."

Rioli will not play for Box Hill or Hawthorn on Sunday, but the Hawks will welcome back Brendan Whitecross for the first time since tearing his ACL in last year's qualifying final.

Ruckman Jonathon Ceglar will also make his debut – the Hawks' fourth of the year – and Isaac Smith returns from injury.

"These guys (Whitecross and Ceglar) have started to play some good footy and show they're ready to play AFL footy and mix it with the big boys," Clarkson said.

"Whitey's had a really good rehab from his knee injury in the finals last year and I'm just really stoked that he's up and going for us."

Grant Birchall has been ruled out for up to four to six weeks with a PCL injury, but Clarkson said the Hawks had worked extra hard to cover the losses of key players.

"The really good sides over the last two to three seasons have been able to do that. We've been a little bit more one-dimensional and just played our blokes in their best positions," Clarkson said.

"But I think we're a better side now that we've got a little bit more flexibility."