HAWTHORN forward Jarryd Roughead found himself in an unfamiliar position on more than one occasion on Sunday against North Melbourne when he was called upon to take on a role in the ruck.

The absence of Robert Campbell (glute injury) and Simon Taylor (suspension) left Hawk big man Brent Renouf to ruck virtually unaided all afternoon against the Kangaroos, until Roughead stepped up in the second half.

It was a different sight for Hawks fans when Roughead took the rucking duties at the start of the final term, but it was one that didn't trouble the talented goal-kicker.

"I don't mind it. It's a little bit different and I might have to go out and buy a shin-guard but I don't think I will because I don't pull my socks up, so not to worry," Roughead said at Hawthorn's recovery on Monday.

"It's a bit different. It makes it good when the circle is only small because I get a couple of steps and run and jump, so it's not too bad.

"It was a long, taxing game and to go in the ruck in the last quarter – I’m probably not the fittest bloke going around.

"But to have a run, it wasn't too bad."

The Hawks will have Taylor available for this Saturday's clash with Port Adelaide at the MCG, while Campbell faces another fitness test.

Roughead admitted his teammates were feeling a little tender on Monday after a bruising encounter with the Roos.

"It was pretty hard. There are a fair few sore boys today," he said.

"It was just end to end footy for that second and third quarter, so it was pretty taxing on all of the boys."

However, he said the club's first win for the season eased any pain that might have come with the hard-hitting and fast game.

"The boys were a bit slow the first two weeks but to get that first win was always good, and to get it against the Kangaroos was even better," he said.

"Now we'll have blokes coming back in over the next few weeks that will strengthen and straighten us up a bit more, so we'll be good for the games to come.

"We've kicked 100 points the last three weeks in a row so it wasn't like we were playing bad footy – just at times, we were playing bad patches.

"To put four quarters on the board yesterday was good."

Roughead said the Hawks might also get Jordan Lewis (shoulder) and Brad Sewell (groin) back for the round four clash in five days' time.