HAWTHORN could be facing another stint without Stephen Gilham after the full-back pulled up poorly from his return from a knee injury.

The Hawks, who had to play the first two rounds of the season with a makeshift backline, couldn’t consider their premiership defender for Saturday’s clash with Port Adelaide.

Gilham played against North Melbourne last week but his left knee, hyper-extended in the Hawks' NAB Cup loss to Carlton, has grounded him again.

The 24-year-old's absence comes at a cruel time for the Hawks, who have also lost defenders Grant Birchall (broken thumb) and Xavier Ellis (foot ligaments) to injury.

Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans wasn’t certain if Gilham's problem would be ongoing but was hopeful of a quick return to the field.

"I think we’ll just wait until we let it settle down and see where it’s at after that," Evans told hawthornfc.com.au.

However, Evans doesn't believe that Gilham, who along with the injured Trent Croad formed the cornerstone of the Hawks’ defence in 2008, will need further testing on his knee.

"We think it’s just stirred up a little bit, certainly not the way he did it the first time,” he said.

"We’re hopeful that it’ll settle down quickly and he’ll be fine."

Gilham injured the knee in an attempt to spoil Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola when the sides met at Docklands on March 1.

He appeared to have made a successful return as the Hawks posted their first win of the season.

Again, Docklands was the venue.

"He got through the match really well," Evans said.

"He played a pretty serviceable game for us but there was some swelling in his knee that just hasn’t settled down, so he won’t be able to play."