The man Hawthorn players have nicknamed "Silk" is confident of a much smoother path through the second half of the AFL season.

Hawks midfielder Shaun Burgoyne has played the last three senior games, making a long-awaited comeback from injury.

Recruited from Port Adelaide, the 27-year-old had off-season knee surgery and then had a hamstring injury.

His return was further delayed when he suffered a broken jaw in a VFL match, meaning he currently wears a helmet during matches.

Despite starting the AFL season so late, Burgoyne feels he is regaining form and fitness steadily.

"If you count the (NAB) Cup games ... (and) it's round 10, most players have played 15 games - it's my third game for the year," he said.

"I'm still catching up, I still probably have a few more weeks to get my match fitness up where it needs to be.

"But we're getting there, I'm feeling pretty good out there.

"I'm still a bit rusty, still a few things to work on, but we'll get there."

Burgoyne admits he hates wearing the helmet and hopes to discard it as quickly as possible.

"Psychologically, I'm fine - my jaw is actually stronger than it was, with a couple of plates and screws in there," he said.

At his best, Burgoyne is one of the game's most skilled onballers and this led to his "Silk" nickname.

"I don't know if they're taking the micky out of me or not, they're trying to make up nicknames for me, so that one seems to have stuck," Burgoyne said.

But he has endured a rocky few months, with Burgoyne saying a rash of injuries had made the last 12 months the hardest period of his 160-game career.

He also missed 13 games last season because of a knee injury.

"I'm pretty excited to be playing footy again, I've been pretty injury-free over my whole career," he said.

"Probably this last year, I've faced the toughest time of my career, getting over these couple of injuries I've had."

Burgoyne will play against his old club on Sunday at the MCG.

Port did not want Burgoyne to leave, but he said he remained on good terms with his old club.

He added the switch of clubs was "a great time for a change".

"I still have some pretty good mates there, I think I left on pretty good terms, I was pretty open and honest when I left," .

"Since I've come here, Hawthorn have really embraced me and I've embraced them.

"It will be a bit mixed, to start off with, but once you get out on the field, I'm a Hawthorn player now and I will be doing everything I can to help this team win and do what I can for this club."

Meanwhile, Hawthorn have confirmed that tough defender Campbell Brown will be out of action for four to six weeks with a knee injury.

Scans on Monday confirmed Brown suffered a grade-two posterior cruciate ligament tear in the third quarter of Sunday's win over Sydney.

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