HAWTHORN captain Sam Mitchell believes former Port Adelaide star Stuart Dew could make his first appearance in the brown and gold possibly as soon as the pre-season cup.

Dew, who was drafted by the Hawks last season after spending a year out of the game following his retirement from football in 2006, was out of condition and over his playing weight when he presented at his new home in November.

But Mitchell said the premiership player has worked hard at regaining his fitness over summer, and could be considered a chance to figure in the Hawk's pre-season campaign, which kicks off in three weeks time.

"If you quote me and say yes and he's not, I'm sorry. But, I would say looking at him, he could play at the moment, but that's up to him and how he feels, and how Jack, our fitness man, what they think," Mitchell said on Friday.

"But, I'd be well and truly happy to run out next to him at the moment.

"I reckon he's trimmed down. Looking at him running around out there today, I think he's back pretty close, and I'm not sure of his exact measurements, to what his playing weight would be.

"He's going along nicely and he's fitted into the group so well. If you have a look at him out there, he's just a great leader for us.

"He's helping out the young guys, telling them what to do and where to go, and the patterns they should be running and the things they should be doing. When you can get an extra leader like that at the age of 28 or 29, and a premiership player into the footy club, it's a great thing for us."

Mitchell, who took over from former skipper Richie Vandenberg at the end of last year, said he is adapting well to his new role and doesn't believe the extra responsibility has altered how he goes about things.

"I'd like to think that I haven't changed too much," he said.

"The reason you become captain of a footy club is because of the things you've done preceding that.

"I have my own little way of doing things, and probably have just done that while I've naturally taken it over.

"It hasn't been too much of a change. I wish I could tell you I've done great big things and changed this and changed that, but it's been a very steady and smooth transition. I don't think anyone would think I'm too different to the way I was before.

"I enjoy it the same. There's probably a few more commitments off the field, but other than that, it hasn't been a huge change.

"I've enjoyed leading the boys and the boys calling me skipper, but other than that, it's not too much different. Our footy club is cruising along pretty smoothly at the moment, and I guess all the tests will come when the season comes."

Mitchell also said the Hawks are yet to outline objectives for the upcoming pre-season competition, and will look at doing that when they travel to the Apple Isle in two weeks.

"We haven't spoken about it yet. We have our community camp down in Tassie from February 4 to 8," he said.

"When we go down there, we'll probably have a little bit more of a chat about what our aims are going to be going into the pre-season cup."