AS HAWTHORN counts the cost of more injuries to its key defenders, veteran fullback Brian Lake says he wants to play on beyond this season.

Lake, who will turn 34 in February, has been in rock-solid form in 2015, recovering from an early-season knee injury to help the Hawks climb back into the top four after a run of four-straight wins.

The only downside from Saturday's win against Essendon was a shoulder injury to key defender James Frawley, who may be sidelined for some time.

Since Lake crossed to Waverley at the end of 2012, the 238-game veteran has found the team success he craved after 11 seasons with the Western Bulldogs.

Out-of-contract this year, the dual premiership player and Norm Smith medallist hopes to add to his trophy collection before he hangs up the boots.

"I keep going up and pestering the coaches and the CEO that I reckon I've got another year in me, especially with James (Frawley) falling down a couple of times and I know (about that) myself," Lake said.

"But I'd love to go again. I think it's exciting being in a place where we've had some success and we're still playing some reasonably good football.

"I'm still enjoying the game – that's the main thing. The body's probably the best it's been since I've been at Hawthorn and the last couple of years at the Bulldogs as well.

"So you're probably looking at five years, this is the best my body's felt.

"I guess the challenge when you're 33 years old, it's about the mind - if you can keep rocking up every day.

"I'm enjoying every moment I've been at the club and playing. I'd obviously love to be playing for Hawthorn again next year, but if not I'll be down at Caroline Springs."

Lake battled a serious knee issue towards the end of his Bulldogs career, and persistent calf trouble hampered him last year.

But, apart from his three-week injury lay-off, he has stood up alongside Josh Gibson this year while Frawley and Matt Spangher have been missing.

Frawley suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder against the Dons, while injury-plagued Spangher is yet to appear at senior level and hurt his ankle playing in the VFL last weekend.

"It's happened over the last couple of years that we've had that issue with (injuries) I guess (to) myself and Gibbo and Matt Spangher as well, but that's the challenge," Lake said.

"We've got a really good Box Hill side at the moment, I think they're still sitting on top of the ladder after the loss on the weekend.

"We've got a lot of depth, we've got Ryan Schoenmakers, and depending on how Matt Spangher pulls up we've still got plenty of options down back that we can go to."

The Hawks are preparing for a blockbuster clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night - a contest between fourth and fifth on the ladder.

Lake said he's looking forward to lock horns with monster forward Travis Cloke, who bagged five goals in a round 14 loss to the Hawks last year, as Hawthorn aims for an eighth-straight win over the Pies.

"Yeah, I do enjoy it because, the same with Geelong, the game's a little bit more predictable," Lake said.

"You know how their ball movement's going to be. Their midfield is going to look for Cloke a fair bit of the time – the same with Geelong with (Tom) Hawkins.

"So you know you're going to be in the game a fair bit of the time, so you really accept that challenge and look forward to it."