HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful veteran Shane Crawford will return to the side for next week's hyped up clash against the Cats despite missing this week's meeting with the St Kilda.
Crawford played two matches after returning from a five-week lay-off due to ongoing knee tendonitis issues but he was forced out of Saturday night's encounter with St Kilda when the injury flared again.
Clarkson said the club was keeping a close eye on the injury as it tried to get the star back on the track.
"It's a difficult injury to manage, tendonitis in the knee," Clarkson said.
"We'll see how he gets back into training early next week and that will determine whether he plays the Geelong game or has another rest but for this particular game he wasn't quite ready and hopefully he'll be right for next week's game against the Cats."
Clarkson admitted that the 33-year-old is growing frustrated with the ongoing injury.
"He's frustrated because he's usually so good at being able to manage his body and get himself right but tendonitis, it doesn't spare anyone.
"If it gets you, it gets you pretty hard so it's been frustrating because he just likes to get out there and for the bulk of his 16 years he's been able to get himself out there on more occasions than not."
Crawford is on a year to year contract with the Hawks and Clarkson said that the Brownlow medalist is eager to make the most of what is left of his playing career at the Hawks.
"He knows he's nearing the end, whether that's in six months time or 18 months time or even two and a half years… but he's such a tremendous trainer that who knows how long he'll play.
"He knows that he's certainly in the twilight of his career and he wants to be out on the park as much as he can be."