HAWTHORN skipper Luke Hodge has recovered from knee surgery but he will wear a protective glove when he makes his return to football, after an old finger injury flared up.
The four-time premiership star, who had been sidelined with a knee injury, is eyeing a recall against Gold Coast on Sunday in Launceston.
The Hawks, however, may take a more conservative approach, and hold off playing him until after the club's round 15 bye.
"We just have to see how his hand is at training," Hawks football manager Chris Fagan told the club's website.
"He's done some really good work over the last three or four weeks.
"He's a chance (to face the Suns), but I'd say it's sort of 50-50.
"His knee is fine and has been for a while. It's more just making an assessment on the finger."
Nonetheless, Hodge trained with his teammates on Tuesday morning, trialling the new glove after aggravating an old injury to the little finger on his right hand a fortnight ago.
The 32-year-old, who has embarked on a mini pre-season training regime over the past three weeks, trained strongly during the session, and did not appear hindered by the finger complaint.
Hodge hasn't played since tearing the lateral meniscus in his knee against Greater Western Sydney in round six.
It hasn't been a good year on the injury front for the captain, who missed two games with a broken arm earlier this season.
Fagan was unsure when Ryan Schoenmakers would return. The swingman was troubled by what Alastair Clarkson termed a "grumbly" groin, before hurting himself again in his return through Box Hill.
"I don't know (when Schoenmakers will come back). That's a hard one," Fagan said.
"He's getting better, but very slowly. I'd like to think that maybe he's two or three weeks away, but I couldn't be 100 per cent certain."
Schoenmakers played the first three games of the season but has not been seen at AFL level since.
Former Melbourne ruckman Jack Fitzpatrick is struggling with a concussion he sustained while playing for Box Hill in the VFL on May 15.
"He's still battling away with that. It's a bit of a worry for him and for us," Fagan said.
"He's still not feeling normal. With all the protocols around concussions now, Jack won't be playing footy until he feels normal again and I'm not sure when that will be."
Jonathan O'Rourke and Dallas Willsmore were pulled out of Box Hill's game against Geelong in the VFL last Sunday.
O'Rourke hurt ligaments in his thumb and will be absent for another week.
Willsmore had a sore hamstring after Box Hill training on Saturday morning and is expected to be available at the weekend.
Matt Spangher started jogging in the past week in his return from a hamstring tear.
