Grant Birchall’s injury impacted season has hit another hurdle, with the four-time premiership Hawk from Devonport ruled out of a return to his home state on Saturday.

The 29-year-old had been in good touch since returning from a knee injury for Hawthorn’s round 13 win over Adelaide, but pulled up sore following Sunday’s match with Collingwood.

“[Birch’s] knee has swollen a little bit,” Hawthorn elite performance manager Andrew Russell said on the club’s website on Tuesday.

“He came back from the PCL, he was moving really well and we were really happy with the way it was going, but the knee is telling us that it’s a little bit irritated so he’s not going to play this week.”

He will miss Saturday’s clash in Launceston against ladder-leaders Greater Western Sydney, having also missed matches against St Kilda and Brisbane in his home state due to broken jaw and his PCL worries. He has managed just five games this season.

His absence is a big one for the 6-8 Hawks, with teammate Jack Gunston telling Fairfax Media on Tuesday before the news broke how vital he had been to their successive victories.

“Having Grant down there really helps, he is such a quality player and his rebound off the backline and his ball use is something that we have missed,’’ Gunston said.

“It has been great for the younger guys in the backline to have him there, to learn off him as he is so level-headed.”

Triple-premiership Hawk Gunston said the club’s  “fountain of youth” has revitalised their season and helped give their senior core a much needed confidence boost.

Rising Star duo Ryan Burton and Blake Hardwick, Daniel Howe, James Sicily, Kaiden Brand and Tim O’Brien had all made key contributions in wins over the Crows and the Magpies.

“That confidence was a little bit low at times, but we are building that now which you can see in our younger kids,’’ the 25-year-old said.

“They are all getting big jobs on the weekend and are doing it well, which is lifting the older guys, as the Hodges and the Rougheads now don’t have to do it all themselves.”

The Hawks are keen to returning UTas Stadium to its former status as a fortress, starting with Giants’ scalp. 

“Anytime you are coming up against a team that is above you, you want to go out and play some good footy, and any advantage we can get, we will take,’’ Gunston said.

“Our approach won’t change and we will just go in worrying about what we can control and playing our brand of footy.

“The Giants play some good attacking footy and are a quality side defensively, and it is going to be a big ask, but if we can play a strong defensive-brand and attacking footy, we can match them.”

Saturday will be the 150th outing for Isaac Smith, a teammate Gunston said was vitally important due to his outside run.

“Whether its with the ball or without it, he does a lot of important running for us that opens up space for other people. Hopefully we can get a win for him.”

The Pink Ribbon Game for the Cancer Council will start at 1.45pm.