Injured Hawthorn midfielder Will Day has been ruled out of the elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.
Day has failed to recover from a collarbone injury and will miss Friday night's knockout final at the MCG.
The Hawks remain hopeful the influential on-baller, who was substituted out of the round-23 clash a fortnight ago, will be fit for the second week of the finals should his side beat the Dogs and advance.
"Will certainly is improving, he has been able to resume running and has been training over the past week," Hawthorn's head doctor Liam West said on Saturday.
"But at this stage Will hasn't reached the level of function to return to full skills training yet.
"And given his specific injury, we unfortunately know he won't be able to achieve this in time to be considered for selection next week.
"We plan to progress Will's rehab next week and remain hopeful that he may be available for the second week of finals, should we progress."
The Bulldogs also have a lingering concern of midfielder Adam Treloar who is battling a calf complaint.
The All-Australian is confident he'll be fit for the elimination final but played with a tight calf against Greater Western Sydney in round 24 .
Scans cleared Treloar of a muscle strain but the 31-year-old missed the Bulldogs' training session at Whitten Oval last Thursday.
