Grant Birchall will make his long-awaited return from injury in Launceston on Saturday after being named for his first AFL game in more than two years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Knee and calf injuries have kept the Tasmanian defender and four-time premiership Hawk sidelined since round 15, 2017.
RELATED: Worpel better for Roughead lessons
"My friends and family will be down there watching so it's really exciting," Birchall told the Hawthorn website ahead of the Dockers clash.
"It's a great ground, we know the ground really well and we've had some great success down there.
"We're looking forward to it, and hopefully we can come away with a win."
The 31-year-old has played 245 games for Hawthorn since being selected with pick 14 in the 2005 national draft and was flagged as a possible selection by teammate James Worpel earlier in the week.
"I think he might have played a full [game in the VFL] on the weekend," Worpel said.
"I think he should be ready to go - I'm not too sure where they're going to play him ... but he's been looking really good and his body's holding up fine."
Saturday's clash with Fremantle starts at 2.10pm, with general admission tickets available from Ticketmaster for $14 to people who use the codeword 'Examiner'.