GRANT Birchall and Stephen Gilham are set to return to the Hawthorn team for Friday night's clash with Essendon at Docklands.

The Hawks, ravaged by injuries this season, came through Saturday's thrilling four-point win over Carlton with a clean bill of health, and midfielder Jordan Lewis said he was expecting the two premiership defenders to bolster Hawthorn's line-up for the meeting with the Bombers.

“It is great to go through a game unscathed, and also have 'Gilly' and Grant Birchall come back in the mix this week. We’re gradually getting there, and it’s a good position to be in,” Lewis said.

Lewis said he was looking forward to taking on the Hawks’ traditional rivals this week.

“I think every game we come into, we go into with a little bit of a rivalry no matter who it is. With Essendon dating back to the 80s, we have a rich history of rivalry,” he said.

“It is going to be a great game – a big stage on Friday night against a quality opposition. They’ve played some good football this year, and it is going to be a great test for us.”

Lewis said there was no lingering animosity from the infamous ‘line in the sand game’ between the two sides in 2004.

“A lot of the guys who participated in that game have left the club – guys like 'Vanders' (Richie Vandenberg) and 'Crawf' (Shane Crawford). A lot of the young guys coming in don’t know that history, so I think that is dead and buried,” he said.

Lewis said he was convinced the Hawks had lost Saturday’s contest when Blues forward Brendan Fevola was lining up for a shot in the final seconds of the game.

“They are the ones he usually kicks," he said.

"Fortunately for us, it just hit the inside of the post. That’s what football is about; it is a game of inches. If he had have got it, they would have been celebrating. He missed, and we were fortunate enough to get the win.”