BRIAN Lake will have to wait until after the season for his playing future to be decided, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says. 

Lake told AFL.com.au last month he wanted to put pen to paper on a new contract before this year's finals series so he could focus on winning a third consecutive premiership.

But the veteran full-back, whose current deal expires this year, is unlikely to have his wish granted.

"We're probably just going to leave it until the end of the year – we've done that with a lot of our older players," Clarkson said on Friday.

"It's not particularly great for them but they understand the process that we go through in terms of some of our vintage players on our list."

Lake, who turns 34 in February, has been rock-solid in his 14 appearances this season and has proven he can still shutdown some of the competition's monster forwards.

After being rested from the trip to face West Coast in Perth last week, he is set to lock horns with the AFL's best contested mark – Tom Hawkins – when the Hawks tackle arch rivals Geelong this Saturday night.

In round one, Lake held Hawkins to two goals and two marks in an imposing 62-point win.

But his form over the next four rounds and then finals could decide whether he's offered a one-year contract extension.

"He's been tremendous for us and we'll make a call at the end of the year in terms of what we'll do with Lakey," Clarkson said.

"In the next six-to-eight weeks he's still got a great opportunity to play some good footy for us and then we'll see where it goes at the end of the year."

Despite their continued strong form, Lake and ruckman David Hale are the only Hawks aged over 30 who are yet to re-sign for next season.

Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne and Josh Gibson remain at the top of their games and have agreed to play on next year.

Lake remains Hawthorn's No.1 key defender even in the twilight of his career and, with his body feeling in the best condition it has for five years, he has been pitching to the Hawks' hierarchy for another year.

"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," Lake said in June.

"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."