Veteran Brad Green is set to return to a Demons line-up that, according to coach Dean Bailey, is fed up with honourable defeats and determined to make its own luck against Hawthorn on Sunday.

Bailey confirmed that Green, who has spent a month on the sidelines because of a broken jaw, will play against the Hawks while Jamie Bennell, rested from Saturday's clash with the Western Bulldogs, is in the mix.

James Frawley and Jared Rivers who missed at the weekend because of quad and ankle strains respectively only need to get through training on Thursday to bolster a backline confronted with the task of subduing Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead.

"Those two are going to be real dangerous for us, but the supply with all great forwards is where we've got to try and cut it off," said Bailey.

"I thought we were OK with the Bulldogs last week trying to slow them down ... well, we've got to have the same focus this week."

"We've got to affect their inside-50s so that Roughead and a Franklin, when they get the footy they're under pressure rather than getting on the lead and in space."

Coming off successive tight defeats to West Coast by eight points and the Bulldogs by seven, Bailey said it was up to Melbourne to set the terms at the MCG on Sunday.

Asked whether the honourable losses were starting to wear thin, Bailey said: Yeah, probably, but if you worry about the end result then you forget about the process, the effort that's gone in each week to get up and play."

"I can only give our players a pat on the back, their attitude and application's been fantastic."

"The players have worked hard and I'd like to see them get the reward, get a win for everything they've put it."

Bailey said the Demons were encouraged rather than dispirited by their run of close losses.

"You only need to turn back the clock 12 months ago; I'd rather be in this situation than last year," he said.

"Morale's good and I think that's important at this time of the year when the weather changes - the morale amongst the players has been fantastic."

"To be competitive with the premiers is going to be a great challenge but one we want to get into on Sunday."