HAWTHORN has regained a trio of star midfielders for its NAB Cup clash with the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis will all have their first hitouts of the season as the Hawks seek to bounce back from a double loss to Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions in round one of the pre-season competition.

Click here to see the round two NAB Cup teams

Hawthorn has lost Cyril Rioli (ankle), Brian Lake (calf) and Paul Puopolo (knee) to injury, while ruckman Max Bailey is being rested after playing both games on Saturday night.

The Hawks are still without Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne, Liam Shiels and Michael Osborne, who are yet to play this pre-season.

Hawthorn football operations manager Mark Evans told AFL.com.au Birchall received a 'corkie' at training late last week, and would be expected to play in round three of the NAB Cup, as would Shiels.

Hodge (knee), Burgoyne (ankle) and Osborne (knee) are all targeting late NAB Cup returns as they rebuild fitness following surgery.

Jarrad Grant, Shaun Higgins and Adam Cooney are among the absentees from the Bulldogs line-up that played Collingwood and Essendon a fortnight ago.

Former West Coast Eagle Koby Stevens will make his first appearance in new colours, while Jordan Roughead also comes into the side.

Like Hawthorn, the Bulldogs will also be looking for their first win of the NAB Cup.