ALASTAIR Clarkson is set to return as Hawthorn coach "sooner rather than later", according to his stand-in Brendon Bolton.
Clarkson has stepped up his involvement at the Hawks this week as he recovers from a battle with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The two-time premiership coach has not taken the reins on a matchday since he was diagnosed after Hawthorn's round 10 loss to Port Adelaide on May 24.
Since then, Bolton has led the Hawks to four straight wins.
Speaking to reporters at Melbourne Airport on Friday, Bolton revealed Clarkson has played a bigger role in preparing the Hawks for their key clash against in-form Gold Coast in Launceston on Saturday.
Bolton could not put an exact date on when Clarkson was expected back in the hot seat, but it is understood he could return in time for next Friday night's meeting with North Melbourne.
"I'm not sure when he's coming back but I was pleased to see him around the club a little bit more this week than usual, so we'll see how that one unfolds," Bolton said on Friday.
"He's been involved in some coaching meetings, he's just been around a lot more. So it's good to see him on the comeback.
"Nothing's been told to me definitively (about his return). It just depends on what the medicos say.
"He’s showing progress and he's been around the club a little bit more so it will be sooner rather than later."
Bolton has impressed many observers with his near seamless transition into the senior coach's role, but he faces one of the toughest challenges of his short tenure against a rising Suns outfit at Aurora Stadium.Gold Coast has won six of its last nine games – including a first win over Geelong last round - since it suffered a 99-point belting from the Hawks at Metricon Stadium in round four.
"They're in really good form, it was a great win against Geelong. (Charlie) Dixon and (Harley) Bennell we never faced last time so we know it's going to be a different and determined outfit," Bolton said.
Bennell's six-goal haul inspired the win over the Cats and illustrated the potency of the Suns' attacking midfield that no longer relies as heavily on Gary Ablett.
"That’s going to be a big battle, but we think we've got a really good midfield ourselves," Bolton said.
"They can move the ball really quickly but what that says is we've got to have a really good defensive action and we think down in Tassie we have… and we're looking to maintain that standard."
History is heavily in Hawthorn's favour. The second-placed Hawks have never lost to the Suns in five meetings and have won 16 of their past 17 games at their Aurora Stadium fortress.
Hawthorn, which is facing the toughest run home of any finals contender, could be boosted by Sam Mitchell's return from injury "maybe next week, or the week after", Bolton said.
