Ceglar has been named as an emergency for Sunday's clash at Etihad Stadium with the Hawks settling on two changes to the side that lost to Brisbane last week.

Midfielder Jaeger O'Meara and veteran key defender James Frawley return in place of Kaiden Brand and James Worpel.

Prime mover Elliot Yeo has recovered from a knee injury and will line up for an unchanged West Coast.

The combination of a fit and firing Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett has been a key ingredient in the Eagles' surge to the top of the ladder.

Such has been the seemingly diminished role of ruckmen in the modern game that the likes of Patrick Dangerfield and Nat Fyfe have added tap work to their duties this season, with most teams preferring just one specialist tall.

But clubs have been forced to rethink their plans following West Coast's 47-point victory over reigning premiers Richmond last week.

The Tigers elected to have Shaun Grigg back up Toby Nankervis and the 190cm Grigg was put to the sword by the towering Eagles ruckmen.

Hawthorn have relied on McEvoy in the ruck this season, with Jarryd Roughead providing occasional support.

Speaking before the Hawks named their final 22, coach Alastair Clarkson said Ceglar was a chance to play his first AFL game since tearing his ACL in late 2016.

"We'll make a call today," Clarkson told reporters.

"We've had a lot of discussions about West Coast, the size of their forward line, the size of their defence, the size of their ruck division. But we've also got to make a call about whether Cegs is ready.

"He's getting closer but we just want to make sure it's the right decision for him and for us."

Clarkson noted the Hawks had deployed two ruckmen throughout their premiership years and their new system might need tweaking to accommodate extra height.

The ninth-placed Hawks are out to extend a decade-long streak of wins against the Eagles in Melbourne.

Australian Associated Press