HAWTHORN'S undersized forward line could be without Ryan Schoenmakers for another two weeks, with the marking target still battling a "grumbly" groin.

Schoenmakers missed the Hawks' nailbiting three-point win over St Kilda last round and the 195cm big man wasn't sighted at Hawks training on Thursday.

"Schoenmakers won't play, he's just been a little bit grumbly in the groin and he'll probably be another week or two, we think. That hasn't settled as well as we'd like," coach Alastair Clarkson said.

However, the news is better for Josh Gibson (hamstring tightness) and Bradley Hill (wrist), with both premiership stars training on Thursday and in line to take on Adelaide at the MCG on Friday night.

Gibson is coming back from one week on the sidelines, while speedster Hill hasn't played at all this season after fracturing his wrist in Hawthorn's final intra-club hit-out before round one.

Gibson, in particular, will be a welcome return against a potent and versatile Crows forward line led by stars Taylor Walker (nine goals), Eddie Betts (13), Tom Lynch (10) and big improver Josh Jenkins (13).

Adelaide is the second-highest scoring team this season – averaging 120 points – but Clarkson warned the bigger danger was the Crows' rampant half-backs.

"They've been scoring really heavily, but our view is that they've been able to get really, really quick rebound off half-back as well," he said.

"If they get that same sort of supply off half-back, then any forward line is going to cause you damage – particularly the Adelaide one.

"So if we can limit the supply in the way they get their forward 50 entries and where they get them from … if they're getting them off their high half-backs rebounding really quickly and efficiently, then we're going to be in a bit of trouble."

The Hawks have looked below their best in 2016, apart from when they dismantled West Coast in the round two Grand Final rematch, and their 3-1 win-loss ledger might not look as healthy without evergreen champion Sam Mitchell.

The 33-year-old is arguably in career-best form, averaging 37 disposals and five tackles, and has stood head and shoulders above his teammates so far this season.

He collected an equal club record 44 disposals to will the Hawks over the line against the Saints last round, but Clarkson said Mitchell needed more support.

"We like him winning the ball, but 44 touches tells us he's doing too much on his own," he said.

"Not that that's his fault, but just not enough of his teammates have been stepping up enough to carry the load.

"We've got to try and correct that on Friday night against the Crows."

Hawthorn has a dominant record over the Crows, winning the past six meetings, and will have extra motivation to get the job done on Friday night to celebrate highly-respected four-time premiership gun Shaun Burgoyne's 300th game.

"He's been a really, really decorated player at both (Port Adelaide and Hawthorn)," Clarkson said.

"The fact both those clubs have had significant success in the time he's been there tells you a little bit about the contribution he's been able to make."

Meanwhile, Clarkson hoped draftee Ryan Burton would be back playing this season after undergoing surgery to remove screws and a plate inserted into his leg after suffering a horrific broken leg in 2014.

"His knee's just been a little bit unsettled. He's got a significant plate in his leg and about six or seven screws in there and a couple of those are causing a little bit of inflammation," Clarkson said.

"We just can't get the load into him in terms of his training to get himself up to the level to play back-to-back games, and certainly at senior level.

"He's played a couple of games at Box Hill and he's had a pretty good summer for us, he just hasn't been able to get the work in that we would've liked because of the knee swelling up – not significantly but just enough for it to be a concern."