HAWTHORN defender Brent Guerra hopes to be running again early next week as he desperately tries to be a part of Hawthorn's premiership tilt.

Guerra has been on crutches after suffering a serious hamstring injury late in last Friday night's win over West Coast.

There was significant internal bleeding around the muscle tear and while the Hawks are the premiership favourites, the chances of Guerra returning for the Grand Final appear slim.

He is undergoing daily treatment, including acupuncture, and while Guerra is realistic about his chances, he will make every effort to prove his fitness as soon as possible.

He has a slim chance of returning if the Hawks make the September 29 decider.

"If it comes to the point where we do make a Grand Final and I can get through a week of training, I will be putting my hand up," he told Channel Ten.

"If I'm not 100 per cent, I will be honest with the coaches because it is a big game and we're here to win premierships."

Fellow backman Josh Gibson said the Hawks would be able to cover his absence.

"Obviously it's disappointing for 'Gu' to go down, one of our senior players down there," Gibson said.

"But if you look at our VFL side this year, we've had a lot of defenders who've been playing good footy and missing out.

"There are definitely blokes waiting to come in and it probably just means the guys in the side are going to have to take a little bit more leadership."

The Hawks' defence used to be seen as their biggest weakness, but they have developed a strong system and rebound extremely well with their run and accurate long kicking.

"Probably the greatest thing of late is we've really been able to play games together," Gibson said.

"I know since I came to the club, I've was injured, then (Stephen) Gilham was injured, (Ben) Stratton and obviously 'Schoey' (Ryan Schoenmakers) was quite young then.

"The way we play now, we're really predictable to one another and understand game styles.

"People have always said we're not the tallest defence, but we find if we can bring the ball to ground, we have some fantastic kicks."