TO Hodge or not to Hodge? 

That is the question on every Hawks’ fan’s mind, ahead of Sunday’s clash with Gold Coast Suns at Aurora Stadium.

The Hawks will be chasing their 18th consecutive win at Aurora Stadium, and the skipper has been rated a 50-50 chance to return.

A 25-player squad will be named on Thursday night, before being cut to the 22-man team on Friday.

At least one change will need to be made to the team which defeated North Melbourne last week.

Star forward Cyril Rioli will miss, but it remains to be seen if the Hawks will make just the one change or opt for multiple changes.

Hodge – if fit – could potentially come into the team in Rioli’s place.

However, there have also been a number of Hawks at VFL level pushing their case for a senior recall – or debut.

Will Langford was a strong performer for Box Hill Hawks on the weekend after being left out of the senior side, while fellow midfielder Kieran Lovell impressed in the VFL for the second week running.

With rain forecast over the next couple of days in Launceston, contested ball winners Langford and Lovell could be in the frame.

Key defender Kurt Heatherley has been among the best in the past two weeks and could be an option if the Hawks' opt for reinforcements to combat the Suns' tall forwards, while draftee Blake Hardwick responded from a quiet game a fortnight ago to be among Box Hill’s best performers against Geelong last week. 

As a like-for-like replacement for Rioli, Hardwick could be an option – an accurate goalkicker who can also play in the middle – as could Teia Miles, who has shown the ability to push forward and impact the scoreboard at VFL level this year.