SENIOR stars Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis and Brent Guerra have appeared at Hawthorn training ahead of schedule, joining the club's younger players for the beginning of their pre-season this week.

The full Hawks squad isn't due back on the track until next week, but the experienced trio all chose to return early.

Hawthorn head of coaching and development Chris Fagan said Hodge completed some "light jogging" while his teammates trained on Monday.

The club captain is in the early stages of a gradual build-up back to full fitness, after having his posterior cruciate ligament reconstructed following Hawthorn's 10-point Grand Final loss.

Guerra, who missed the finals with a hamstring injury, has made a full recovery and joined in Monday training.

Lewis completed a cycling session at the club on Tuesday.

The midfielder is recovering from wrist surgery, and will be held back from full contact work until February.

Also training were new Hawks Jed Anderson, Jonathan Simpkin, Brian Lake and Irishman Ciaran Kilkenny.

Kilkenny, an underage star for Dublin in Gaelic football, signed as an international rookie with the Hawks during September.

He arrived in Australia at the weekend.

The 19-year-old will work closely with Hawks special projects manager Mark McKenzie to pick up the fundamentals of the game in the next six months.

Fagan said Kilkenny had made a good first impression with his skill level.

"We've been pleasantly surprised by how well he kicks the ball," he said.

"He's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but he's pretty good.

"With more practice and time in the system, he'll improve."

Veteran full-back Lake has trained consistently since crossing from the Western Bulldogs during the Gillett Trade Period in mid-October.

Fagan said the 30-year-old appeared determined to make his change of clubs a success.

"He's very keen to prove to his new teammates that he means business," Fagan said.

"For a guy later in his career, to go to a new club and have to prove yourself all over again is very motivating.

"At this point in time he seems to have embraced that really well.

"He's been running hard and getting himself ready to go."