HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has admitted star half-back Luke Hodge underwent scans on his foot on Thursday, but says the procedure was merely precautionary.

Hodge was named in Hawthorn's team to play St Kilda in Saturday night's preliminary final at the MCG, and Clarkson said his key playmaker was in absolutely no doubt.

"Apparently he did (undergo scans)," Clarkson said on Friday morning.

"We weren't even aware of it until this morning -- that's how routine it is.

"He's had a scan on his foot but there's no drama. We'd be quite pleased if everyone read into it that he wasn't going to play," he laughed.

The 24-year-old was a major influence across half-back in Hawthorn's 51-point belting of the Western Bulldogs in the first week of the finals.

His organisational skills and ability to set up play make him a lynch pin for the Hawks, and they can ill afford to be without him at the most crucial stage of the season.

The vice captain has played a more familiar midfield role as well this year, and has also kicked 19 goals, but 16 faultless disposals from defence against the Bulldogs in the qualifying final sparked fresh debate over his best position.

If he was foot-sore during Saturday's clash his versatility would also allow a role up forward but Hodge said at Monday night's All-Australian awards, where he was named in the AFL's elite squad for the second time (incidentally across half-back), he was happy to play anywhere.

"Playing half-back with the rebounding is pretty important for the team," he said.

"I'll play wherever the coach puts me, but at this stage, I'm enjoying playing down back."

Details on what prompted the Thursday scans are sketchy, but Hodge certainly has no recent injury history in the area.

After missing the first match this season through suspension, he was out for three games mid season after injuring a hamstring against Collingwood in round seven.

The only match he's missed since was again through suspension in the penultimate home-and-away round after striking Richmond's Brett Deledio in the club's round-20 loss to the Tigers.