Hawthorn will lose key defender Brian Lake for a month due to a knee injury suffered against Port Adelaide on Saturday.

But Hawthorn football operations boss Chris Fagan says Paul Puopolo and Liam Shiels (both hamstring) could play in the Hawks’ round-five clash with North Melbourne on Saturday night.

Lake was substituted in the first quarter of the Hawks’ eight-point loss to Port Adelaide after a contest with Power spearhead Jay Schulz.

His absence is likely to be felt hard by Hawthorn, who are already missing key defenders James Frawley (pectoral) and Matt Spangher (hamstring) over the next four weeks.

Ryan Schoenmakers is likely to be drafted in to fill the gap for the Hawks.