HAWTHORN could regain up to four stars for next week's blockbuster clash with Collingwood.
After the Hawks' workmanlike 46-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, coach Alastair Clarkson said Lance Franklin (hamstring) and Max Bailey (knee soreness) would both be expected to return, with Luke Hodge (thumb) and Grant Birchall (knee) a case of "wait and see".
Birchall has not played since round 13 when he injured his posterior cruciate ligament against West Coast, but he was back in full training this week.
Hodge had surgery on a fractured thumb on Monday.
After being a late withdrawal against Richmond last week with a corked hip, Bailey missed the Saints clash with knee soreness – a situation Clarkson said was part of life for the 26-year-old, who has had three knee reconstructions during his career.
"We're hoping to [get Bailey back next week]," Clarkson said post-match.
"He had a knock to his hip last week and then tried to train earlier in the week and got a bit of swelling in his knee.
"It just seems like it's a bit of a week-to-week proposition with 'Maxy' at the minute.
"He settled pretty well later in the week, and as he presented today, could have nearly played in actual fact.
"He can be a day-to-day thing sometimes, and that's quite often the case with guys who have had the type of injury that he has.
"But we're hopeful that he'll be back, and we're pretty hopeful that 'Bud' (Franklin) is only a one-weeker too.
"And we'll just wait and see with 'Birch' and 'Hodge' – they should both be close to available as well."
