Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson believes an increased willingness to try players in unfamiliar positions has his top-placed AFL club well prepared to weather some injury blows.

The Hawks have lost defenders Grant Birchall (knee) and Brent Guerra (back) and ruckman Max Bailey for Sunday’s Launceston clash with Brisbane, when they will seek to equal their club record 12-game winning streak.

The loss of Birchall, tipped to miss four to six games, and Guerra could hurt Hawthorn’s defensive rebound, particularly with Matt Suckling already out for the season.

But Clarkson said with Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne and Sam Mitchell, among others, having spent time at halfback, the Hawks could cope.

“We’ve worked really hard on that over the past 12 months to have more flexibility in our side so that when things like this do happen we can cover our losses,” Clarkson told reporters at Melbourne Airport on Saturday.

“The really good sides over the past two or three seasons have been able to do that.

“We’ve been a little bit more one-dimensional than that and just played our guys in their best positions.

“I think we’re a better side now that we’ve got a little bit more flexibility.”

Brendan Whitecross will play his first AFL game of the season after overcoming a knee injury.

Former Collingwood-listed ruckman Jonathon Ceglar replaces Bailey for his AFL debut, while Isaac Smith returns.

But speedster Cyril Rioli is at least a week from returning from his long-term hamstring injury and might play VFL first.

The Lions, coming off last round’s remarkable comeback win over Geelong, replaced Sam Mayes with James Polkinghorne.

Clarkson is wary of Brisbane, both because they upset the Cats and the recent return of key players such as Daniel Rich, Matthew Leuenberger and Jonathan Brown.

He said Brisbane’s midfield ball-winning ability drove their recovery against Geelong and also posed a threat to the Hawks, who were shown up in the midfield at times against West Coast last round.

“If we can at least break even in that area we’ll give ourselves a great chance to win,” he said.

“If we don’t, then any team that you play against, whether it’s Brisbane or West Coast or whoever, they’re capable of giving you a real touch-up.”