Hawthorn ruckman-cum-defender Ben McEvoy is set to go back to his roots when he goes head-to-head with Max Gawn on Sunday.

With Jon Ceglar out of the side with a toe injury, Alastair Clarkson has confirmed he will call upon McEvoy to fill the void.

McEvoy has played as a key defender for the majority of the season, his 13th in the AFL system. 

"Cegs has obviously got that sore foot and it's hard enough playing against Max Gawn when everything is able let alone having a sore foot," Clarkson said. 

"So, Big Boy will be the guy there and he will get some support from some other guys throughout the course of the game.

"But we're going to need him in the middle of ground more than we have throughout the first six games of the year."

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Clarkson was quick to go into bat for the wounded Ceglar, declaring he had been pleased with the 29-year-old's form in his first season shouldering the primary ruck duties.  

"If you look at the three games we've won, Ceglar's been really good in those games.

"It's a huge challenge for these guys, Grundy last week, Mumford the week before and now Gawn - these are big, strong men.

"It's bloody hard to play at your very best every week when you're coming up against these brutes.

"When Jonny Ceglar does play well for us, Hawthorn wins games.

"I think we over-scrutinise things a little bit at times, but we have great faith that both of these guys can share the ruck throughout the course of the year."