Hawthorn have confirmed veteran Shaun Burgoyne's latest hamstring injury will sideline him for at least a month in a big setback to the Hawks' AFL finals hopes.
Burgoyne tweaked his hamstring during the third quarter of Saturday's win over Gold Coast and sat out the remainder of the game.
It is the second time this season the 351-game veteran has injured a hamstring, having previously been among the Hawks' most durable players.
The four-time premiership star is the AFL's oldest player at 35 but recently spoke of wanting to continue on for an 18th season.
"He's pulled up pretty well, but the scan that we did yesterday showed that he is probably going to miss around four weeks," Hawthorn fitness boss Andrew Russell said on Tuesday.
"It's probably a little bit worse than we first imagined when he came off."
Burgoyne's absence is ill-timed with the ninth-placed Hawks one of several teams jostling for a spot in the top eight.
Just 10 points separate first-placed Richmond from 10th-placed Greater Western Sydney with nine rounds remaining.
Utility Jack Gunston is expected to be available to face the Giants on Saturday night after suffering a corked calf during the game against Gold Coast.
Star forward Cyril Rioli's future remains clouded.
Rioli took personal leave earlier this month to be with his family in Darwin and the Hawks are yet to put a timeline on his return.
