Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli set to be named to face Eagles

MYSTERY surrounds the availability of Cyril Rioli for Hawthorn's crunch clash against West Coast tomorrow night.

Cyril Rioli

MYSTERY surrounds the availability of Cyril Rioli for Hawthorn's crunch clash against West Coast at the MCG tomorrow night.

Rioli has missed the Hawks' past two games aftering hurting his left shoulder against Port Adelaide, but coach Alastair Clarkson said he expected the midfield jet to be named in the side tonight providing he gets through training unscathed.

The 23-year-old trained with his shoulder unstrapped and appeared to be unconcerned by the injury, but left the track after about 25 minutes - well before his teammates.

Asked before training if Rioli was right to go, Clarkson stopped short of guaranteeing he would play against the Eagles.

"We'll wait and see today,'' Clarkson said.

"He's trained all week and we'll make a call after training today.

"But he's pretty close, so unless something happens today we'd be expecting to name him tonight.''

If Rioli were to miss the game he would go in to next weekend's qualifying final - assuming he is selected - having not played since August 12.

Scans the day after the injury occurred showed Rioli's shoulder had bone bruising to the scapula and deep muscle bleeding around the nerve.

The Hawks need to win tomorrow night to guarantee their spot on the top of the ladder, while West Coast need to win to hold off Collingwood in the battle for fourth spot.

Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans told the Hawks' website Rioli "has trained brilliantly over the last two weeks".

“He’ll put his hand up hopefully (for selection) and we’ll know more from there.”

Evans said key forward Lance Franklin had pulled up well after his first game for six weeks against Sydney last Saturday.

See all the Round 23 teams as they are named from 5.30pm at SuperFooty