Hawthorn gun Chad Wingard is set to face Carlton after proving his fitness from a hamstring tweak, while the Hawks weigh up whether to recall young gun Will Day.
Wingard was substituted out of the Hawks' thumping win over Port Adelaide after an injury scare on Saturday, but after scans showed he'd avoided any serious damage he just had to get through Thursday's training to play.
Coach Sam Mitchell said the substitution had been precautionary given Wingard's hefty injury history.
"It was difficult, during the game he had some signs and they weren't exactly sure (how serious the injury was)," Mitchell said.
"With his history, it was like 'we're not going to have time to work out exactly what's happening here' so we were able to use the sub.
"But at this stage we hope that he'll be available."
Day successfully got through his VFL comeback after a frustrating run with ankle injuries, with the Hawks to ponder whether he'll play AFL.
"He will play this weekend. I'm not sure at this stage where he will play," Mitchell said.
Ruckman Max Lynch is still unavailable as he only stopped having concussion symptoms midweek.
Mitchell said the Hawks would contemplate tagging red-hot Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps on Sunday but emphasised the quality of Matt Kennedy, returning midfielder Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh.
The Hawks' backline, led by gun interceptor James Sicily with help from Sam Frost, has conceded the least points in the AFL over the opening two rounds.
But Mitchell noted that came against a "young, developing" North Melbourne and Port Adelaide without Robbie Gray or Charlie Dixon, with Carlton's Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow to provide a genuine litmus test.
"I've been really pleased with our defence so far, I think we've conceded the least points," he said.
"But we are letting it in there a bit too often ... we would like to not expose them as often.
"At the moment they're holding up well but it's a new challenge every week.
"This week they've got last year's Coleman Medallist (McKay), Curnow's obviously back into their side, he kicks five and very difficult goals to stop with the talent he's got.
"Then they've got multi-pronged players down there. So it's going to be a new challenge."
