Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson believes star forward Lance Franklin could finish the AFL season with an energy boost thanks to his five-game injury break.

Franklin will return from a hamstring injury against Gold Coast at the MCG on Sunday, with the Hawks also regaining fellow key forward Jarryd Roughead and midfielder Liam Shiels.

Veteran ball-winner Sam Mitchell will miss the game with a minor ankle injury.

Clarkson said the Hawks would have preferred it had Franklin recovered more quickly but the forced lay-off might have some benefits.

“We’ve coped okay in his absence but there wouldn’t be an opposition coach in the country that would be pleased to have him in the Hawthorn side,” Clarkson said.

“He’s a very, very good player for us and we’re just hopeful that this five-week break that he’s been forced to have re-energises him and he has a really big last six or seven weeks of the season.

“It’s a little bit longer than what we’d like but we’re hoping it will freshen him up.”

The return of Franklin and Roughead prompted the Hawks to drop ruckman Max Bailey.

Clarkson said it was the most ruckmen and tall forwards he had had available during his time at the helm.

He said it was unlikely they could squeeze any more of them into the 22, although it would not necessarily be Bailey who missed out come finals time, setting the scene for a selection battle with fellow ruckman David Hale.

“I think we’d be a little bit top heavy if we went with all three (including Roughead) but it might depend on the opposition too,” Clarkson said.

The Hawks coach also said it was uncertain whether star small forward Cyril Rioli, out with a shoulder injury, would be back for the start of finals, although the early indications were positive.

“It’s still far too early to deem whether it’s going to be two or four weeks,” Clarkson said.

Sunday’s clash with the Suns has been designated the Kokoda game, with the Hawks to wear a special camouflage jumper and veterans of the 1942 battle to attend.

“It’s probably a part of our military history that hasn’t been given the recognition it perhaps deserves,” Clarkson said.