Lake played just two quarters of NAB Cup football in late February in his first outing for his new club and hasn't played since because of a calf injury.
Recruited from the Western Bulldogs for his ability to stand power forwards such as Geelong's Tom Hawkins, the dual All Australian could be the missing piece in Hawthorn's premiership puzzle.
But according to his former teammate at the Bulldogs, Daniel Giansiracusa, Lake just isn't worth playing in round one if he is not fully fit.
"Take Brian out of it, you wouldn't go into any game with any player that's got a risk," he said on Friday morning ahead of his own club's season opener against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
"If someone does injure themselves in round one it's a long season, whether it's anyone Brian or anyone in the competition I would have thought."
Lake was named by the Hawks in their 25-player squad for Monday's clash, with the final 22 to be finalised on Saturday afternoon.
If the Hawks choose not to play him, he will likely play a VFL practice match for Box Hill on Sunday to gain more match fitness.
