UP to five new Hawks could be unveiled for the NAB Challenge clash against Fremantle at Subiaco on Saturday night.

Young midfielder Xavier Ellis, forward Jarryd Morton, inside ball-winner Josh Kennedy, ruckman Luke McEntee and first-year rookie Sam Gibson have been named in the initial squad.

Football manager Mark Evans said it was another opportunity for the club to have a “glimpse at the future”.

“These boys are going to play a lot of footy together and it will be exciting to see how they go in their first hit-out together,” Evans told hawthornfc.com.au.

“Xavier was out of action in 2006 because of school commitments and Saturday’s game will be his first in the Hawthorn team and we are looking forward to him playing.

“Garry (Moss) played his first game last week against Carlton and it will be great that he will be joined by Jarryd this week where they will both play in their home state in front of family and friends.

“Kennedy has done well during the pre-season, adapting to the tempo of AFL training and it is great for him to get this opportunity pre-season.”

Ex-Bomber Danny Jacobs has also been included in the 28-man squad for potentially his first run since round 10 last year when a hamstring injury abruptly ended his season.

Key tall Beau Dowler, exciting midfielder Beau Muston and redrafted defender Josh Thurgood are also in the provisional group.

Tough-nut Campbell Brown is also back after serving one week of his two-match suspension. Due to Brown being able to play in this match – as it is a NAB Challenge clash – he will miss the opening round of the season proper.

Several key Hawks have been rested for the trip across the Nullarbor. Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Mark Williams, Grant Birchall, Robert Campbell and Tim Clarke will sit out the match.

Hawthorn squad: Roughead, Lewis, Jacobs, Crawford, Bateman, Sewell, Taylor, Dowler, Muston, Guerra, Boyle, McGlynn, Franklin, Dawson, Gilham, Little, Murphy, Brown, Ellis, Thurgood, Renouf, Morton, Kennedy, Moss, Tuck, McEntee, Gibson and Young.