Hawthorn could welcome back a handful of key players as they seek a drought-breaking win over Sydney in Sunday's vital AFL game at the MCG.

Midfielder Chance Bateman and ruckman Simon Taylor are almost certain to be available, having overcome a corked quad and gashed knee respectively.

But the Hawks will monitor three of their best midfielders, Jordan Lewis, Shane Crawford and Brad Sewell, who all trained on Tuesday.

Lewis played in the round 14 win over West Coast but has been troubled by a quad injury, Crawford has been sidelined by knee tendonitis and Sewell has undergone two bouts of surgery since the loss to the Western Bulldogs in round 10.

Last year's best-and-fairest winner initially underwent shoulder surgery, and then last week had an appendix removed after he woke one day experiencing stomach pain.

Lewis, Crawford and Sewell will be assessed later this week as the Hawks prepare to beat Sydney for the first time since 2003.

A drought-breaking win would give the third-placed Hawks extra breathing space between them and Sydney, who are currently 10 points behind in fourth spot.

Midfielder Tim Clarke admitted Sydney had the edge on Hawthorn, but said the Hawks had to stick with their own game.

"We're just going to go out there and play our style of football and just try and focus on what we have to do," he said.

"We've watched what other teams have done when they've played them and we've just got to go out with our own strategies and back ourselves in, play more confident football."

Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes will return for the Swans, but Barry Hall will not be there because of his AFL and club-imposed suspensions.

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