Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful of skipper Luke Hodge, star forward Lance Franklin and defender Grant Birchall all being fit to return for the AFL leaders’ clash with Collingwood next weekend.

Hodge underwent surgery this week on a fractured thumb, which ruled him out of the Hawks’ comfortable 46-point beating of St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Franklin missed the match with hamstring tightness.

Birchall has been out for the past seven weeks with a knee injury, but has resumed full training with the Hawks.

Clarkson is confident all will play sooner rather than later – and is weighing up pitchforking all three into the Collingwood match.

Ruckman Max Bailey appears less certain to return after hip and knee problems forced him out of Friday night’s victory.

“It just seems a bit of a week to week proposition with Maxy … and that’s quite often the case with guys who’ve had the type of injury history he’s had,” Clarkson said of Bailey, who has had multiple knee reconstructions.

“We’re hopeful that he’ll be back, and we’re pretty hopeful Bud (Franklin) is only a one-weeker too.

“We’ll just see with Hodge and Birchall who should be close to available as well.”