HAWTHORN has hosed down fears Cyril Rioli has suffered a setback with his troublesome hamstrings after the dynamic small forward was sent for scans on Monday.
Rioli played a full game – and took two huge fourth-quarter hangers - in the Hawks' 70-point win over the Western Bulldogs in Launceston on Sunday.
But the triple-premiership star pulled up sore and had precautionary scans, which Hawthorn's general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said had nothing do with his hamstrings.
"There's nothing wrong with his hamstring," Fagan told AFL.com.au.
"He had a couple of bumps and bruises from yesterday's game, so we had some precautionary scans but nothing sinister and nothing that will stop him from playing this weekend."
Rioli underwent a vigorous pre-season strengthening regime after missing 21 games over the past two seasons due to hamstring complaints.
In March he told AFL.com.au he felt "a lot stronger in the legs" and his early-season form has been impressive.
The 25-year-old has been typically influential across the opening three rounds, booting a goal in each game and averaging 17 disposals, and he should be fit to face Port Adelaide on Anzac Day.
"That's our expectation," Fagan said.
"I can't account for anything that happens at training during the week, but right now, honest to god, he's sore and he played the game out yesterday and he hasn't got any significant issues at all."
In more positive news for the Hawks, Fagan confirmed tackling machine Paul Puopolo had only suffered a corked leg against the Bulldogs, while he expected Bradley Hill to return against Port.
Puopolo was substituted out of the Dogs clash in the fourth quarter after he had collected 16 touches and booted a goal.
"He had a bit of a corkie. Again, another minor thing. He could have played the game out [but] it was more we had Jed (Anderson) sitting there and we thought 'Let's not do any more damage'," Fagan said.
Hill was held back from the Dogs clash because he was still feeling some effects from having his head whacked into the hard MCG turf late in the Hawks' round two loss to Essendon.
"He still didn't feel quite right. Even though he passed all the medical tests he needed to pass, he just didn't feel himself so we didn't play him," Fagan said.
"You would expect he would be OK (this weekend)."
Meanwhile, Hawthorn is waiting on analysis of injury-plagued big man Matt Spangher's hamstring scans before releasing more information.
The popular Hawk limped to the bench in the first quarter of VFL affiliate Box Hill's round one win over Footscray on Saturday and played no further part in the match.
