HAWTHORN midfielder Brad Sewell insists that he wants Cats’ premiership star Gary Ablett to play in Friday night's blockbuster at the MCG.

Ablett missed the round 16 victory over the Doggies at the Cattery due to an ankle injury and was still on crutches at the weekend.

But Sewell said the club was hoping he would recover so the side could face the ultimate test.

“We hope he does [play]," Sewell said.

"We want to play them at their best.”

As for the Hawks’ own injury woes, Sewell said he was unsure as to whether club veteran Shane Crawford would return from injury for Friday night’s clash. Crawford missed out lining out against the Saints due to knee tendonitis.

“It’s a week by week proposition with him so we’ll have to see how he goes this week.”

Sewell has also admitted that he would consider employing Joel Bowden’s tactics of running down the clock if he was in a similar game situation with the Hawks. Bowden conceded consecutive behinds in the dying seconds of the Tigers’ four-point victory over the Bombers on Saturday.

“I guess in those circumstances you’d certainly think about it wouldn’t you? Giving the time left in game it would certainly cross your mind,” Sewell said.

However Sewell wasn’t commenting on whether the rules should change to prevent the time wasting tactics.

“I’m sure it will be looked at but then that’s up to the AFL so we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” he said.

As for the Hawks disappointing defeat to the Saints on Saturday night, Sewell believes it’s the “reality check” that the club needed.

“The reality check was spot on… to be touched up the way we were, and I don’t think we were getting ahead of ourselves at all, but it put things in perspective a little bit.”