JARRYD Roughead could make a return to the Hawthorn line-up as early as next week's NAB Cup final round.

The Hawks big man, on the comeback from a ruptured Achilles, has pleased coach Alastair Clarkson with his training in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old is expected to play his first match next weekend, either in the senior team or at the Hawks' VFL affiliate Box Hill.

"'Roughy' has had a really good training block, and we'd be hopeful that he'll play some footy next week," Clarkson said before training on Friday morning.

"Where that will be…we need to determine what our NAB Cup schedule is for next week.

"We'd give some consideration to playing him in that if it was suitable and he can have a good training week.

"But he's progressing really well."

Clarkson said the club hadn't set a specific target to have Roughead available for round one against Collingwood.

"If he has a really good three weeks leading into round one, then we'll give it some consideration," he said.

"So he's not totally out of the mix, but we think it's more unlikely than likely that he'd suit up against the 'Pies in the first game."

The Hawthorn coach said defender Stephen Gilham, who ruptured his ACL last year, was a fortnight from playing his first match.

"We'd expect 'Gilly' would maybe be a week later [than Roughead], but he'd be a chance for next week as well," Clarkson said.

Clarkson also revealed that recruits Jack Gunston and Jarrad Boumann were in contention for a place in the round one team.

Both will line up in Saturday night's NAB Cup clash with Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

The Hawks have recalled several stars for the match, although defender Josh Gibson will sit out with back stiffness.

"He was going to play last week, but he just had a bit of stiffness in his back after the flight down to Tassie, and that hasn't settled as much as we would've liked," Clarkson said.

"He trained pretty well yesterday, but he hardly did anything on Tuesday.

"So he could've played this week, but we're probably better off just getting him right for next week."

And Clarkson reported that draftee Alex Woodward, who ruptured his ACL against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, had come through his surgery on Thursday night well.

Mark Macgugan covers Hawks news for hawthornfc.com.au and afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_MarkM.

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