The Hawks, who are seventh on the ladder following last week’s win over the Sydney Swans, meet the Lions at Aurora Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Alastair Clarkson was forced to make at least two changes to his side, with excitement machine Cyril Rioli (hamstring) and schoolboy Liam Shiels (illness) both out of the line-up.

“Liam’s been a little bit crook this week, so we’ve decided not to take him into the game,” Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said of Shiels.

“Both Brown and Murphy have got through the first part of the week, so we’ve named a squad at the moment and we’ll finalise that tomorrow.”

Brown was selected to play against the Swans before being a late withdrawal, however Evans said the club was more confident he would take his place this week.

“He had a corkie from the week before and while the corkie had improved there was some bleeding down into his knee that hadn’t dissipated, but that should come up pretty well,” he said.

Rioli’s absence will be felt as he has been a shining light all season for the reigning premiers. Evans described the injury as a “typical hamstring”, with a three-to-four-week recovery time expected.

Clinton Young remains sidelined with a hip/groin complaint but the news is brighter for defenders Stephen Gilham and Rick Ladson.

While they won’t taste senior action this weekend, Evans said the pair was making steady progress.

“They played at Box Hill last week and got through that match pretty well, so they’ll have another go there,” he said.

“Box Hill have got a rest this weekend but [will] play the weekend after during our split round.”

Hawthorn Team
B: Guerra, Campbell, Murphy
HB: Muston, Hodge, Birchall
C: Lewis, Mitchell, Bateman
HF: McGlynn, Franklin, Brown
F: Osborne, Roughead, Williams
Foll: Taylor, Sewell, Ellis
I/C (from): Dew, Dowler, Kennedy, Morton, Renouf, Schoenmakers, Tuck

In: Brown, Dowler, Kennedy, Morton, Murphy
Out: Rioli (hamstring), Shiels (illness)