HAWTHORN small forward Cyril Rioli is expected to be available for selection this weekend, but it is still to be decided if he'll slot straight into the senior line-up or spend a week at VFL level.
The 23-year-old has not played since badly tearing his hamstring against North Melbourne in round five.
He resumed full training last week, but the club has been extra cautious given the young star's history of hamstring issues.
Teammate Jarryd Roughead said Rioli was a chance to make his Box Hill debut this weekend as he seeks to regain match fitness after spending two months on the sidelines.
"He'll definitely be training and I think he'll be available, but whether or not that's AFL or Box Hill, we'll just have to wait and see," Roughead said on Monday.
"I don't think he's ever had to pull on a Box Hill jumper.
"'Hodgey' (Luke Hodge) has had to do it, we've all had to do it, so it might be Cyril's turn this week."
The Hawks, who face the Brisbane Lions in Launceston on Sunday, will hope their nine-day break allows defenders Josh Gibson and Grant Birchall enough time to recover from the injuries they sustained in the win over West Coast on Friday night.
Birchall suffered a corked knee early in the match, but battled on until being subbed off during the third quarter, while Gibson rolled his ankle late in the game.
Small forward Paul Puopolo may face a similar scenario, having withdrawn from the Etihad Stadium clash after experiencing quad tightness in the warm-up.
"[They'll] just have to wait and see this week," Roughead said.
"We don't play until Sunday, so we've got a good break in between games.
"We'll give them as much time as they need, knowing it's a longer week, and no doubt recovery will be the main focus for them this week."
Roughead said he expected wingman Isaac Smith to be fit to return from the corked calf that kept him out of Friday night's game.
After their comeback from 52 points down against Geelong on Sunday, the Lions will enter Sunday's clash with the ladder leaders full of confidence, and Roughead was aware his side would need to be switched on.
"It was a pretty impressive last half from 'Brissy'," he said.
"We've got them this week, so it's going to be pretty full on.
"We're going to have to be on our game."
