Hawthorn has welcomed back captain Jarryd Roughead for an all-important clash with the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday night.

The juggernaut forward, who’s booted 557 career goals and played 272 games, will return from a two-game lay-off due to an ankle injury.

Midfielder Ricky Henderson and defender David Mirra will also return in a total of three changes.

Star defender James Frawley will miss the game due to a back injury, while Conor Glass and Marc Pittonet have been omitted.

But the 22 players Hawthorn is set to bring to the SCG boasts a wealth of strike and its midfield leads the way.

Star on-baller Tom Mitchell is leading the competition in average disposals and clearances per game and has tallied 50 or more possessions on two occasions this season.

The Brownlow Medal favourite led the AFL Coaches’ Association’s Champion Player of the Year award votes before they went behind closed doors after Round 21.

On-ballers Jaeagar O’Meara, Liam Shiels and Isaac Smith have also found plenty of the ball this season, while the likes of evergreen Hawk Shaun Burgoyne and young guns Jarman Impey and James Worpel have chimed in with important contributions in the midfield.

Forwards Luke Breust (52 goals) and Jack Gunston (46) are both among the top 10 for most goals in 2018, while Roughead and the lively Paul Puopolo have also made telling impacts forward of the ball.

Young defender Kaiden Brand was tasked with playing on Sydney forward Lance Franklin when the four-time Coleman medallist last met Hawthorn in Round 19, 2017 – and Brand is again expected to be sent to the star Swan.

While the fifth-placed Swans are eyeing a top-four spot ahead of the last round of the regular season, the Hawks sit fourth and will be out to maintain their position in the top four in search of a prized double chance.

Top-four teams also earn a week off if victorious in the opening round of the finals.

Hawthorn has won its past five games, a hot stretch of form boasting an 11-point win over potential finals campaigner Geelong a fortnight ago.

Hawthorn edged St Kilda in a four-point win at Etihad Stadium last Saturday, leading at every change and staving off the Saints in a low-scoring final term.

Gunston was enormous in a return of four goals and Mitchell finished with 33 touches.

Sydney claimed a thrilling eight-point win when the Swans and Hawks last met at the MCG in Round 8.