Dear, similarly, played in the VFL on Saturday night, but he had played reduced minutes in the two previous VFL games as he made his return from the back-stress problem that hampered his pre-season and early season.

He was one of the finds of the season last year, the Hawks almost as surprised as the rest of the competition by the stunning rise of the tall forward, son of 1991 Norm Smith medallist Paul Dear.

Veteran forward Jack Gunston, who is in outstanding form, will be managed on the short break in much the same manner as Collingwood rested Scott Pendlebury.

Clubs have more five-day breaks this year because there are Thursday-night games played in every round for the season. That has seen a trend for clubs taking a season-long approach to player management and being more open about resting players as they emphasise the need for squad depth.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell confirmed after the Melbourne game that Jarman Impey would miss the match as his wife was due to give birth.

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Veteran small forward Luke Breust will almost certainly be rested as he has played full minutes in the past two games and not started as sub or been subbed out.

Versatile defender Jack Scrimshaw is among the Hawks who have flown to Darwin.

The Hawks face a punishing run into the bye. Presently sitting in the top six, they play all five of the other current top-six sides in the next five weeks; Gold Coast, Brisbane and Collingwood both at the MCG, followed by the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium before taking on Adelaide in Launceston.

Gold Coast, who have now won seven in a row in Darwin, will be without Will Graham, who badly injured his shoulder while Jake Rogers has flown back to the Gold Coast.

Young tall Ethan Read was rested for the Bulldogs game, while veteran David Swallow, Sean Lemmens and Lloyd Johnston are in Darwin and available. The Suns have also flown midfielder Ben Jepson, who has yet to make his debut, to Darwin.

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