Hawks prepared for Hodge birth

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has conceded he has 'a contingency plan' in place in case vice-captain Luke Hodge is a last-minute withdrawal from Friday night's MCG blockbuster against Geelong due to the imminent birth of his first child.

Hodge trained with the rest of the Hawks' squad on Thursday morning but with the baby due on Friday, he could be a late scratching from the club's biggest game of the season.

Clarkson, who joked that he would take his footy boots 'just in case it happens mid-game and I can have a run', said he was preparing his team to face the reigning premier both with Hodge and without Hodge being in the side.

"Like all pregnancies there is a two- to three-week window when Lauren (Hodge's partner) could have the baby," he said.

"If it happens to come tomorrow afternoon or late evening then Hodgey will miss the game and we will just have a contingency in place, with the emergency player waiting in case he (Hodge) gets the phone call."

Clarkson said he had no problem with his influential midfielder missing the game but said the Hawks had to be prepared just in case.

"If it is the right thing for him and Lauren that he is at the birth, that's fine but you can't not prepare for it," he said.

However, while Hodge is at least certain to be named in the team, former skipper Shane Crawford remains a doubtful starter due to his on-going knee tendonitis problem.

Crawford, who missed last week's loss to St Kilda and has played just seven games this season, will play game 299 for the Hawks if selected on Friday night but did not take part in the club's short final training session at Waverley Park on Thursday morning.