HAWTHORN may welcome back premiership duo Paul Puopolo and Will Langford for Thursday night's clash against Adelaide, but defender Grant Birchall will miss another week with an ankle injury.

A calf injury has kept Langford on the sidelines since round nine, but the midfielder made a successful return through the VFL a fortnight ago before the Hawks' bye.

Puopolo missed Hawthorn's round 10 win over the Saints with a foot complaint.

Birchall has been sidelined by an ankle injury that he sustained in the club's round eight loss to the Swans.

Coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed on Wednesday the premiership defender would not fly with the team to Adelaide.

"He's getting there, he's making progress but just not as quick as we thought," Clarkson told reporters at Melbourne Airport.

"He's up and running and making progress, (but) he's just not quite there yet."

Clarkson said he was hopeful Birchall would be fit for the Hawks' round 13 game against Essendon, but couldn't make any guarantees.

Defender Angus Litherland did not travel with the team and looks likely to be omitted, with the Hawks to make at least two changes. 

Skipper Luke Hodge also flew out with the team, despite training with a compression bandage on his left calf during the week.

Clarkson said his premiership captain had "no worries" and would play against the Crows.