HAWTHORN forward Luke Breust is certain Cyril Rioli won’t take the risk of playing unfit in the preliminary final.

Breust backed the club’s medical staff to get the decision right on Rioli and said Brent Guerra set the perfect example in 2012 of what a player should do if he wasn't capable of being fit in time.  

Guerra ruled himself out of the 2012 Grand Final after suffering a hamstring injury in the final round of the season, before playing in the Hawks’ 2013 premiership team.

"I'm sure Cyril will do something similar [to Guerra]," Bruest said. "If he wasn't right he'd definitely say no to the medical staff and wouldn't put the team in jeopardy."

Rioli has not played since injuring his hamstring in round 15, but club and player remain hopeful he will still play a part in the business end of the season.

Breust said Rioli had been training well but couldn’t shed any light on when the electrifying forward would be right to go.

Breust said Rioli could be considered as a substitute if he was selected to play, a decision that would throw doubt into the opposition's minds.

"[I'm] sure they'd make decisions around that because of how special a player he is," Breust said.

"I'd back our medical staff to get it right," Breust said.

Rioli isn't the only selection question that is facing Hawthorn.
 
Ruckman Ben McEvoy and defenders Matt Suckling, Angus Litherland and Ryan Schoenmakers are all pressing for selection.
 
McEvoy and Shoenmakers will plead their case in the VFL preliminary final this weekend after the Box Hill Hawks' opponent, Williamstown, appealed the decision to grant them permission to play.
 
Breust did not mention that situation specifically but said it would be good for players on the fringes of selection to play.
 
"We have got multiple guys up for selection. To get a run in their legs is the best for them [so they can] put forward their case to the coaches and let them make their decision," Breust said.

Breust said despite setbacks during the season, with injuries to key players and the mid-season absence of coach Alastair Clarkson as he recovered from illness, the side was well placed for a premiership push.
 
"I think our culture is very strong at Hawthorn and I think that is what stands up in big games," Breust said.

"We play for each other and play for the team. No matter what situation is we all come together and we all have a common goal so we do anything to reach that."