HAWTHORN star Shaun Burgoyne has forecast more time away from the goal square for returning spearhead Lance Franklin after the success of the Hawks' 'Buddy'-less forward line against Essendon on Friday night.

With Franklin out suspended against the Bombers, Hawthorn kicked its season-best score of 23.8 (146) and had 11 different goal-kickers on the way to a 65-point win.

Four players - Isaac Smith, Michael Osborne, Liam Shiels and Shane Savage - bagged three goals each, prompting a post-match joke from coach Alastair Clarkson that Franklin could start at centre half-back this week.

Burgoyne said Franklin's skills would continue to be utilised up the ground, as they have been throughout the first half of the season.

"With Buddy, he's got great endurance capacity, he's quick," Burgoyne said from Waverley Park on Monday afternoon.

"He's played in at the centre bounce a couple of times this year, so no doubt we're going to see him up on the wings and in the middle (at stages) throughout the rest of the year.

"Versatility is a great thing for the team."

The third-placed Hawks face second-placed Collingwood in a monster MCG clash this Sunday, and Burgoyne said he and his teammates were eager to test themselves against one of the competition's best.

"We know when we play our best footy that we can mix it with Collingwood and Geelong, but in saying that we've lost twice to Geelong this year," the former Port Adelaide star said.

"It would be good to get another win against a team inside the eight, because you're continually testing yourself against the best in the competition, and if you want to be up there you've got to beat those guys."

Hawthorn has won plaudits for its deadly accurate field kicking during its 10-3 start to the season, including from Magpies coach Mick Malthouse, who said on radio SEN 1116 yesterday that he has never seen a better kicking team.

"I think the confidence has just grown within the group," Burgoyne said when asked for a reason behind the impressive ball use.

"We're encouraging everyone in the team to back their kicking, whether that's short or long, lateral or forward."

But he denied the change to a high-possession, kicking-based game plan for this season was directly influenced by a need to overcome Collingwood's premiership-winning forward press.

"It hasn't been brought in just for any one team," the 2006 All Australian said.

"It's a strength of the team and we want to play to our strengths weekly."

The Hawks will lose injured pair Cyril Rioli and Brad Sewell for Sunday's clash, but regain Franklin.

Burgoyne said premiership players Xavier Ellis and Clinton Young would face fitness tests this week, as would young key defender Ryan Schoenmakers.

He expected all three to be in contention to face Collingwood.

Burgoyne also reported that Rioli remained "pretty upbeat" despite injuring his hamstring for the second time this season.

Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawthorn news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan