Josh Weddle has reached an important milestone in his injury comeback, raising hopes he will return for Hawthorn's AFL elimination final against GWS.
The defender played the second half of Box Hill's VFL final loss to Southport on Saturday afternoon in Melbourne.
It was his first game since he suffered a back injury in round 16, with initial fears that his season might be over.
But if Weddle pulls up well and selectors decide he is ready, the backman would be a major boost for the Hawks next Saturday against the Giants at Engie Stadium.
"He's been looking great out here, so it's nice the season is not over for him," teammate Jai Newcombe said after Saturday morning training at Waverley.
"He's a quality athlete, for his size and the way he moves, he's pretty hard to stop.
"The run he generates off half-back for us is massive (for) us getting the ball in our front half and being able to keep it there."
Newcombe is happy to be an AFL finals road warrior, saying Hawthorn's form shows they are ready for wherever September takes them.
The Hawks astonishingly are yet to win in eight visits to Engie Stadium.
Hawthorn's three losses in their last 11 games were all interstate, to fellow finalists Fremantle, Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions.
But they were in front at three-quarter time against the Dockers and Crows and the biggest margin of those three losses was 14 points.
"We're set really well. We've been playing top-order sides over the last six weeks and we've been more than competitive in all those games.
"So our game is in good shape and we're really looking forward to taking it to the Giants.
"We've shown we're more than good enough to win at those places (Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane), so we'll be looking to do the same."
This will be the first GWS-Hawthorn final and if recent history is any guide, it will be tight. The biggest margin in their last five games has been 13 points.
It will be particularly competitive through the midfield, where Newcombe and his fellow Hawks onballers will go up against Giants stars such as Finn Callaghan and Tom Green.
"We have to be sharp, we have to be on our toes," Newcombe said.
"Obviously Finn with his outside run is very damaging ... and you know what you're going to get from Tom on the inside.
"They've been super-impressive all year - it's a good challenge for us and we're more than capable of taking it up to them."
Newcombe will play his 100th AFL game next weekend and so far, he's been a man in a hurry.
He has played 99 of a possible 104 games, including 92 of his last 93.
But there is no time for reflection - Newcombe will leave that to veteran teammate Luke Breust, who will retire once the season is over.
"It's definitely come up quicker than I expected. It's been nice to play most of the games I've been available for," Newcombe said.
"'Punky' has been putting it in a good perspective over the last few weeks, how he's gone about it. Hopefully the reflection is a long way down the track for me."
