Hawks hope Lance Franklin will play against Port Adelaide

HAWTHORN says Lance Franklin is a strong chance to return from a hamstring injury against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Lance Franklin

HAWTHORN says Lance Franklin is a strong chance to return from a hamstring injury against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Franklin, who has missed four matches since straining his hamstring against Greater Western Sydney, has trained well this week according to football manager Mark Evans.

The superstar forward has been listed as a "test" on the club's injury list for the past two weeks and Evans said a decision would be made later in the week, but the signs were positive.

"He trained really well on Saturday and again earlier this week.

“Let’s see how he goes by the end of this week, but hopefully big Buddy will be back out there,” Evans said.

He said ruckman Max Bailey would be available this week after withdrawing from the team to play Geelong because of illness, while forgotten Hawks Chance Bateman and Xavier Ellis were chances to replace the suspended Liam Shiels.

Bateman has missed most of the season after injuring his shoulder in Round 2 while Ellis has not been seen at senior level since Round 24 last year.

"There’s a few things there that we could try,” Evans told the Hawks website.

“Chance Bateman played a really good game at VFL level, Bradley Hill has been playing well.

“Xavier Ellis has made a really good comeback and was in Box Hill’s best as well.

“You never know, it might be one of the other players in our team that goes through the midfield.”

Meanwhile, Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge told the club website he was ready to play a full game this weekend after being subbed off at three-quarter time the past two weeks.