JAMES Frawley appears unlikely to be risked for a rematch with Lance Franklin in Saturday night's blockbuster against the Sydney Swans, despite recovering well from a dislocated shoulder.

Frawley sustained the injury against Essendon in round 13 and will have completed the minimum three weeks' rehabilitation from the injury by Saturday night.

Although the key defender returned to training last week, teammate Josh Gibson agreed the Hawks did tend to err on the side of caution with players returning from lay-offs.

"It was only a few weeks ago. I saw him out there (at training today), he was moving around, but I think the medicos will make that decision," Gibson said.

Frawley played his best match for the Hawks when he kept Franklin scoreless and to just seven possessions in Hawthorn's four-point loss at the MCG in round eight.

"He's a fantastic player, Chip. The job he did on Bud last time was sensational and he's a really valuable member of our back six," Gibson said.

"I definitely know with playing down back with him that I'd want him out there with me each week."

Gibson, who has locked horns with close mate Franklin in previous encounters, said whoever got the job would need help to shutdown the superstar forward, who needs only two majors to reach the 700-goal milestone.

"Bud's just not for the individual, he's too talented a player to just leave it to one guy. It will be a job for the back six," he said.

The Hawks, who have strung together six straight wins since round eight, have cemented their top four spot with the opportunity to overtake the third-placed Swans this weekend.

While Hawthorn's 72-point demolition job against Fremantle on Sunday was the club's best four-quarter performance this season, Gibson played down the win and hinted that the Hawks believed they were yet to hit the same heights as 2014.

"I think there were aspects of the game that were really promising. Probably this year it's been some of the best football we've played," he said.

"After coming in and reviewing it there's still areas we need to work on.

"Playing in Tassie is a good advantage for us … it's a tough place to travel. That probably comes into it a little bit as well, which helped us."