HAWTHORN will wait until the last minute to decide whether skipper Luke Hodge will take part in a VFL practice match ahead of its round one clash against Adelaide.

Hodge, 26, has battled an Achilles injury for the past six weeks that kept him out of the Hawks' NAB Cup/NAB Challenge campaign.

His continued absence from the team sheet led to speculation his injury was more severe than the club was letting on, but football operations manager Mark Evans said Hodge would be assessed after training on Thursday and could run out for Box Hill against Williamstown on Friday.
 
"He's certainly staking a claim for round one," Evans said on Tuesday.

"Luke trained really well last week and the week before. He's a chance to potentially play some game time this week in the VFL practice match.

"I'm that confident in Luke Hodge and his ability and competitiveness that I'm sure he'll stake a pretty good claim for round one."

Hawthorn finished its schedule of pre-season matches last Friday night with a 27-point win over Melbourne at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

Unlucky ruckman Max Bailey made his first appearance in the NAB Challenge against the Demons after suffering swelling in his reconstructed knee following an intra-club match at the same venue five weeks earlier.

Evans has previously said that the club would use the rest of the pre-season learning how to best manage Bailey, who has undergone three knee reconstructions, and he reported positive signs out of Friday's hitout.

"He went well. He played about 40 minutes of game time with some bench time in that and has pulled up out of the game pretty well so far," he said.

The Hawks kick off their 2011 premiership season against the Crows at AAMI Stadium on Saturday March 26.

Luke Hodge is a $428,300 midfielder in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.

Max Bailey is a $97,600 ruckman in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.