The 2007 Peter Crimmins Medallist has missed the opening four rounds with a collarbone injury, but coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful Sewell will return to add depth and hardness to the Hawks' midfield against the Kangaroos.
"We're hopeful Sewell will be available, but we'll test him later in the week," Clarkson told afl.com.au during an AFL Coaches Association and Australian Defence Force promotion for men's health week at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
"It's usually a six to eight-week injury and he's right at seven weeks, so he's just got to do some physical stuff later in the week to prove he's able to get through a game".
Sewell will add some much needed premiership experience to a team that also welcomed back Clinton Young for his first game of the season last week.
Clarkson said Young, along with Rick Ladson, would improve as the season progresses. Last year, the defenders combined for a total of just eight matches due to injuries.
"He hasn't played much senior AFL footy [recently] - both he and Rick Ladson - so it's going to take them a little bit to adjust to the tempo again," Clarkson said.
"We're really pleased to have them back in our mix."
Clarkson said it was disappointing to have key recruits Shaun Burgoyne (initially a knee injury and now a broken jaw), Josh Gibson (hamstring) and Rhan Hooper (hamstring) sidelined, but he is not perturbed by their set-backs long-term.
"When you get recruited from another club, the one thing you do want to do is be able to prove your worth by playing footy and making a contribution on-field. Those guys … have been unable to do that to a large extent," he said.
"We didn't recruit them as one-year players - we recruited them for the long-haul and we're certain that, over the journey, they'll be great players for our footy club.
"Just at the present time, it's not too flash that they're not able to contribute for us, but that's only a temporary set-back."
Despite a heavy injury toll and Hawthorn's 1-3 record, Clarkson is not concerned about his team's prospects for the 2010 season.
"We're just having a bit of a stiff trot at the minute [with injury], but we've got a pretty good group available and up and going. I think our form [last] Saturday night is not a true reflection of where we're at as a side," he said.
"Collingwood is a very, very good side and came off an eight-day break and a fair amount of ridicule from the football community in the aftermath of the St Kilda game. So they were pumped up and played really well.
"We were the other side. We'd come off a six-day break against the Western Bulldogs and we were not quite on edge like the Collingwood side was … With an eight-day break this week, we'll be able to get ourselves going again".
Superstar Lance Franklin and second-year Hawk Liam Shiels will also be available to play when they return from one-match suspensions.
