Hawthorn's horror run with injuries has claimed its biggest casualty, with Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge out for up to four AFL games.

Up to now, fellow defender Trent Croad was the most important player that the Hawks were missing in their premiership defence.

But now they will be without their defensive general for two to four weeks as he recovers from an adductor muscle injury in his groin.

Hawthorn made two changes for Friday night's crucial Subiaco game against in-form Fremantle.

They are also without Cameron Stokes (hamstring) and regained Brent Guerra and Jarryd Morton.

"He probably needs anywhere from two to four weeks off, he's carried an adductor injury for the best part of the last month," coach Alastair Clarkson said of Hodge.

"He's such a competitive bull and he wanted to do the right thing by the team, because we had so many other defenders out.

"He tried to get through and for two or three games he managed it really well, but last week from very early on (against Essendon) it was evident that he'd lost that turn of speed he needs to be at his best.

"He's better off having a spell for a little while and then we get him back and hopefully have a really good second half of the year."

But the news is much better for onballer Chance Bateman, who appears to have overcome the calf muscle injury that restricted him in the loss to Essendon.

"He's trained over the last couple of days and we're anticipating he'll play," Clarkson said.

"He's recovered remarkably well from last week's game ... we thought at the end of last week's game there were going to be three certain casualties.

"He's responded really well to treatment ... at this stage we're expecting him to play and that he won't have to go through a fitness test tomorrow."

Fremantle made only one change to the team which beat Carlton on the Gold Coast last week with Greg Broughton replacing the omitted Luke Pratt.

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