HAWTHORN'S Luke Breust escaped serious injury after a brutal collision with Adelaide's Brodie Martin on Sunday but is still unlikely to face West Coast in round four.

Breust, 21, was carried from the MCG late in the final quarter of the Hawks' 56-point win over the Crows on Sunday evening.

He had been running for the ball with his arms outstretched when he collided with Martin, who had just run onto the field from the interchange bench.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said Breust had been dazed after the incident but had not broken anything despite receiving heavy contact to his face and back of the head when he hit the ground.

"He's a bit fortunate there because he was very, very open - he's just rattled the scone a little bit and he'll be OK," Clarkson said. 

"He's recovered OK. It was a pretty severe hit so with a six-day break leading into a Perth travel, it will probably be unlikely he'll play next week but we'll wait and see he recovers.

"It was a pretty solid knock. Those blokes that sneak up on you off the interchange, it can be a dangerous thing."

Clarkson said Breust had been talking to the doctors after the incident and remembered his three-goal contribution to the win.

The collision was sickening to watch, with both players seemingly unaware of the other's presence.

Martin had just launched himself into the air to mark the ball and Breust only had eyes for it as he kept his feet on the ground.

The result saw Martin's hip plough into Breust's face, with the young Hawk then thumping the back of his head on the ground when he fell.

Breust didn't move as the trainers approached, and they worked for several minutes to remove the 21-year-old's mouthguard.

After trainers fitted him with a neck brace, he was driven from the field.

Earlier, the Hawks lost Grant Birchall after he received what Clarkson described as a "kick to the calf". He was subbed out of the game at three-quarter time.

Meanwhile, the Hawks are set to regain Luke Hodge for Saturday night's clash with West Coast at Patersons Stadium, with the club captain declaring himself a likely starter.

"I'm feeling good," he told 3AW before the game.

"I had one of my harder running sessions [on Saturday] since I hurt it and pulled up really well. I'll train Tuesday and Thursday and if I get through them, I should be good for Saturday night."

Hodge missed the opening three rounds with a calf injury.

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.