The Hawks are on top of the Farrer League ladder, undefeated after six rounds, but are set to welcome several key players into the team in coming weeks.

Off-season recruit James Hodges has returned to Wagga after a stint in Perth and has rejoined the Hawks.

Hodges is set to bolster a Hawks’ forward line that already boasts Marc Geppert, Chris Jackson and Jake Robinson.

He will join the likes of James Creasy, Daniel Davey and Kade Rowbotham that will push for senior selection from reserve grade in coming weeks.

EWK coach Gavin McMahon is happy to have Hodges back.

“His best footy is amazing,” McMahon said.

“He is one of the most talented players going around, it will just a matter of finding consistency.”

Creasy and Davey will return from injury in reserve grade this weekend, while Rowbotham will make his firat appearance for the club in the same game.

Undefeated without these players, McMahon is happy to have the luxury of starting the group in reserve grade.

“Absolutely, it’s a nice position to be in,” he said.

“We’re now in a position where we’re able to reward effort and also select sides depending on the opposition we’re playing.”

“You’ve got to do the work first before you get a spot in our side and that’s a nice position to be in.”

The Hawks will resume from last week’s representative bye with a trip to Ardlethan on Saturday to play Northern Jets.

The Jets have won two of their opening five games and sit in sixth spot.

McMahon is not going to take them easy.

“I think their smalls are as good as any side in the comp,” he said.

“We won’t want to be asleep around the middle of the ground this week because we’ll quickly find ourselves in trouble.”