HAWTHORN star Jarryd Roughead has returned to the club as he awaits the result of crucial medical tests.
Roughead had surgery last week to remove cancer from his lip and skin tests will determine whether the problem is resolved.
If the key forward receives the all-clear, he will probably return in a fortnight.
Teammate Shaun Burgoyne said the only priority at the moment was Roughead's health.
"His spirits are pretty high," Burgoyne said on Monday.
"Obviously it was a shock to us all to hear what he was going through.
"He was in this morning, getting around.
"One of the best medicines is to be back around the group again and feed off their positivity."
As Roughead and the club await the test results, the Hawks are also preparing for a massive clash with Fremantle this Sunday in Launceston.
Fremantle is two games clear at the top of the ladder, while the two-time defending premiers have won their past five games.
"They're obviously the standout team this year, being a couple of games clear at the top of the ladder," Burgoyne said.
"So it's going to take our best footy to beat them this week."
Burgoyne chuckled when told Dockers coach Ross Lyon referred to Hawthorn on Sunday as the AFL's benchmark team.
"There are probably some mind games going on there," he said.
"If you're two games clear on top of the ladder, you're clearly playing some good footy and you deserve to be the favourite."
Burgoyne said the weather had been wet and windy and Launceston, where Hawthorn has a 7-0 record against the Dockers.
"We're going to have to get dirty," he said of the likely conditions.
"We can't allow them to play the game on their terms.
"We have to be able to dictate the game and play it the way we want.
"You've seen when they play the defensive style they want, they suffocate teams and it becomes very hard to score."
While fourth-placed Hawthorn has built a solid winning streak, Burgoyne feels there is plenty of room for improvement.
"We're obviously not playing our best footy, but it's pleasing to know that we can grind games out," Burgoyne said.
"It gives us a bit of confidence, knowing if we stick to the style we want to play, we're going to get the wins.
"We're definitely building.
"We just need to continually work on some of the areas where we're allowing other teams to score against us."
