Hawthorn have dropped veteran onballer Brad Sewell and left out forward Cyril Rioli for Saturday’s AFL preliminary final against Port Adelaide.

Sewell will make way for defender Matt Suckling, who returns from a knee injury for Saturday’s MCG clash.

If Hawthorn reach their third-straight grand final by beating Port, there are reports that Rioli will play for Box Hill in Sunday’s VFL grand final against Footscray.

Rioli’s latest hamstring injury has kept him out of action since round 15.

He made it through Thursday’s training session, but the Hawks have decided not to risk an immediate AFL return.

While Sewell has only played 10 AFL games this season, they included the last three.

Port Adelaide are unchanged.

North Melbourne have lost defender Jamie Macmillan to a hamstring injury for Friday night’s ANZ Stadium preliminary final against Sydney.

Ben Jacobs will take his place and the Swans are unchanged.