Hawthorn hope gun recruit Chad Wingard is ready to fulfil his potential, after overcoming injury and travelling to Launceston for Saturday's AFL clash with Port Adelaide.
Wingard's return to face his former side comes after three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and an inconsistent start at the Hawks.
The 25-year-old battled calf issues during his first pre-season at Waverley Park before booting three goals on club debut in round three.
He managed just three goals in the next four games then injured himself again in a round seven loss to Melbourne, when the two-time All Australian also received some strong onfield feedback from his new forward teammates.
Coach Alastair Clarkson wants the mercurial forward to treat his enforced break as a chance to reset and find his best form.
"He's had an interrupted pre-season and an interrupted first part of the year," Clarkson told reporters on Friday.
"We're hopeful those troubles are behind him now and he can get going in the second half of the year
"Only time will tell. It's an important step for him to get back in the side and hopefully start playing some good footy for us."
Key defender James Frawley has also overcome a hamstring injury and will line up for the 11th-placed Hawks at University of Tasmania Stadium but former skipper Jarryd Roughead will play in the VFL for a third straight week.
Roughead's forward replacement Mitchell Lewis suffered a concussion during last week's loss to Richmond but is expected to be available.
Clarkson said Roughead remained in the mix for selection but wingman Isaac Smith could miss several weeks more with his foot injury.
"You just can't muck around with those foot injuries," Clarkson said.
"They take a long while to settle sometimes and this one's taken particularly long.
"I feel like he turned a corner (midway through) this week. He wanted to play and he was close but we just thought we were going to ramp him up too steeply.
"We'd be hopeful he's available for the Brisbane game (next week) but I thought he was going to be available two weeks ago and he hasn't been, so there can be no guarantees.
"If we be conservative then he'll play after the bye."
