VITALLY important Hawthorn defender Ben Stratton is back training and certain to return for the opening week of the finals. 

The 27-year-old was in career-best form when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle a fortnight ago against Melbourne, and the Hawks were unsure when he would return.

But he has recovered tremendously to the point that if the finals were starting this week, he would likely be available to play.

Match preview: Hawthorn v Collingwood

"He's close to being back this week but we probably won't take the risk with that," general manager of football, Chris Fagan, told the club website.

“He's making really good improvement and he's doing skill work this week, so he should be in really good shape come the first week of the finals."

The Hawks lost ruckman Jon Ceglar to an ACL tear last Friday, but according to Fagan there is no swelling around the injury so he will be having surgery shortly. Ceglar won't play again for up to 12 months.

Fagan also said that key position players Ryan Schoenmakers and Matt Spangher pulled up well from their VFL hit-out on Saturday and will play again this week.

It was Spangher's first game back but the second for Schoenmakers, and he is a chance for a senior recall against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.