Hawks back Frawley for AFL finals return

Hawthorn expect premiership defender James Frawley to be among several reinforcements for the first week of the AFL finals.

Frawley will miss Saturday night's hotly-anticipated clash with Sydney after jarring his back during the Hawks' win over St Kilda last week.

The 29-year-old has been a constant fixture of the Hawks' backline this season and would have been likely to spend time on Lance Franklin at the SCG.

"We've given James every opportunity to get himself right, but unfortunately he's still experiencing some soreness," Hawthorn football boss Graham Wright said.

"He'll miss this week, but we're hopeful he'll be back to 100 per cent fitness come the first week of finals."

Franklin has been named by the Swans despite having been on restricted duties at their final training session of the week.

The Swans have indicated they will give Franklin until game day to show he has overcome a groin injury.

Hawks skipper Jarryd Roughead is a certain starter against the Swans after overcoming an ankle issue that has sidelined him for the past two games.

Ricky Henderson and David Mirra are the other inclusions with Marc Pittonet and Conor Glass omitted, while Heath Grundy replaces Robbie Fox for Sydney.

Veteran backman Grundy has been sidelined for the past month while battling mental health issues but played at reserves level last week.

Frawley's absence, as well as that of Grant Birchall and James Sicily, means the Hawks will line up with a highly-inexperienced backline.

Sicily (wrist) is listed as being two weeks away from returning while Birchall (knee) should also be available for the first week of the finals.

The winner of Saturday night's game will secure a top-four finish and the Hawks could climb as high as second should other results go their way.

West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy, Melbourne's Jack Viney, Collingwood backman Jeremy Howe, Richmond's Dan Butler and GWS forward Toby Greene are among the other big names earmarked for a week-one finals return.