Hawthorn AFL spearhead Lance Franklin is set to return to face Gold Coast while the club waits for a diagnosis on Cyril Rioli’s shoulder injury.

Riolo, who was subbed off at halftime during the Hawks’ 12-goal win over Port Adelaide in Launceston on Sunday, was undergoing scans.

Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said the elusive midfielder struggled to lift his shoulder post-game.

But the news is brighter for Franklin.

After missing the past five rounds with a hamstring injury, he’s set to line up on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.

Midfielder Jordan Lewis said the fourth-placed Hawks had been extra cautious with Franklin, with the finals looming.

“I think they’re just being pretty cautious with him, but I think you’ll see him back out there this week,” vice-captain Lewis said on Monday.

“He was ready to go last week – he had a full week of training.

“He just wasn’t quite right towards the end.”

Lewis said the length of recovery time had frustrated the goal-kicking star but the team had covered the loss well.

“As we’ve seen over the past five weeks, Buddy, arguably our best player, has been out but we’ve managed to fill that role,” Lewis said.

“We’ve got complete confidence that whoever comes into the side is going to play their role, and we don’t ask for anything more of any of our players.”

Lewis believed Hawthorn could also regain Jarryd Roughead, who was rested with an ankle injury last weekend.