HAWTHORN half-back Brent Guerra has not joined his teammates at the airport for their flight to Launceston on Thursday afternoon and will miss the Hawks' clash with Gold Coast on Saturday.

Guerra suffered a perforated eardrum in an off-the-ball clash with Geelong midfielder Joel Selwood on Saturday night and had been listed as a 'test' by the club during the week.

Hawks skipper Luke Hodge said the in-form 200-gamer would be missed, but was confident his team had the depth to cover Guerra's loss, plus that of big men Jarryd Roughead and Brent Renouf, who were also injured against the Cats.

"He [Guerra] has been in good form," Hodge said.

"He's just turned 29 and he's been playing some good football.

"But we've got full confidence, with our young guys, in whoever comes up to play any role."

Former Kangaroo David Hale was in the travelling party and will regain the forward/ruck role filled successfully by Roughead in recent weeks.

Hale spent the past two matches in the VFL as he returned from a knee injury suffered against St Kilda in round eight.

Also making the trip were small defenders Rick Ladson and Kyle Cheney, both of whom shape as viable replacements for Guerra.

Ladson, a member of the 2008 premiership team, has not played a senior match since round seven.

Cheney, a former Demon, made his Hawthorn debut against Fremantle a fortnight ago but was left out of last week's team to face Geelong.

Hodge said a focus for the fourth-placed Hawks this week would be on maintaining a high level for the entire match.

"We've played some inconsistent footy, so that's been the frustrating thing," Hodge said.

"We still know that we've got plenty of improving to do.

"We haven't yet played a four-quarter game of football, so we'll be looking to do that this week against Gold Coast."

The Suns clash will be Hawthorn's first road trip since coach Alastair Clarkson banned the players from using their phones during a stay in Sydney in round nine.

On that occasion the Hawks turned in one of their best performances of the year to beat the Swans by 46-points.

Despite the apparent success of Clarkson's tactic, Hodge doesn't expect it to be repeated in Launceston this weekend.

"He [Clarkson] said that was a once-off in Sydney," Hodge said.

"It actually worked though, so I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls it out again, but I don't think he will."

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