Gardner thought it was a minor concern after the win against Coleambally but ended up requiring surgery to insert screws into the fractured digit. 

With five games to play before finals, the league leaders are hoping he will be back for the last round of the home-and-away season.

“Obviously it’s been two weeks since he did it so he’ll be back probably a week or two before the finals,” Marrar coach Shane Lenon said. 

Gardner’s absence is offset by the return this week of veteran backman Clint Taylor and young star Adam Whyte (who both missed their last game with soreness) as well as spearhead Brad Turner, who’s had three weeks off with a broken rib.

Turner has kicked 31 goals this season, with 10 of them coming in one game at Gumly last time the Bombers played the Hawks. 

“He brings a heap to the side, he’s a great player,” Lenon said. “But the positive is we’ve been able to win games without him as well so we’re not relying on one player… but he’s a very, very good player, there’s no doubt about that.”

The Bombers had the bye last week and Saturday’s game at Langtry Oval essentially kicks off their finals preparations.

“It’s all about getting a settled side and trying to get momentum at this time of year,” Lenon said. 

“Every week’s different.

“These blokes (EWK) are obviously going a lot better than they were earlier in the peace.

“But I’ve been happy with our last couple of weeks. We played pretty well against The Rock and then I thought we were pretty good for two-and-a-half, three quarters against Coleambally.”

The Hawks upset The Rock-Yerong Creek last week without a host of key players including Chris Gordon, Ben Absolum, Joel Stankiewicz, James Scott and Chris Jackson.

Gordon, Absolum and Scott have been named to return on Saturday. Having taken an important step towards locking down a spot in the five, the Hawks loom as a danger team for rivals. 

“They’re obviously ticking over all right,” Lenon said. “They beat The Rock last week and with Rivcoll (CSU) beating the Jets, the top five’s not settled but I tell you what, it puts (EWK) in the box seat to play finals now.”

Ruckman Nick Hull has been instrumental for the Hawks, who have won two games in two weeks for the first time all year.

“Yeah good player, but we’ll back young Matty Parks and Nick Molkentin,” Lenon said. “They’ll ruck in tandem against him and those two blokes have been doing a good job for us for the year.

“We’re not going to change our plans for one bloke, that’s for sure.”