YOUNG Hawk Marc Pittonet could be in line for his second game with suspended ruckman Jon Ceglar to miss the club's clash with Essendon.

Ceglar will sit out Friday night's encounter at Etihad Stadium after taking the one-game sanction for striking Melbourne key forward Jesse Hogan.

Pittonet's only other senior game came when an injured Ceglar missed Hawthorn's Easter Monday round one blockbuster against Geelong.

Hawks ruckman Ben McEvoy said he wasn't sure how team selection would play out and if he would shoulder the ruck alone.

"I'm happy to play whatever role's needed for the team, whether that's a lot of ruck, or I've played a little bit more forward in that last couple of weeks," McEvoy said.

"If it changes, that doesn't bother me but I think long-term two rucks is the way to go."

But if the Hawks opted for like for like McEvoy thought Pittonet would be the option.

"I think Pitto played pretty well in the VFL last week and has had a pretty solid year for only a second year player," McEvoy said.

"He's been much improved, so it's been really impressive by him."

Despite Essendon sitting last on the ladder and the Hawks in reach of the top four, McEvoy said they needed to be on guard for the Bombers.

"Obviously they're missing a lot of their key personnel, but they've certainly been having a crack," he said.

"Everyone that's in there is really keen to go at the contest and they've been playing some good patches of footy.

"They probably don't have the cattle on the park unfortunately for them, but the way they're going about it and some of their ball movement they've been really aggressive and can really score."

Meanwhile, McEvoy believed star forward Jack Gunston would play against the Bombers after suffering a knock to the leg that forced him out of the last few minutes of their 18-point win over Melbourne.

The Hawks already have key forwards Jarryd Roughead, Ryan Schoenmakers, Jack Fitzpatrick and Matt Spangher all unavailable.

"He's (Gunston's) pretty sore but he'll be right for this week I'd imagine," McEvoy said.