Michael Whiting of AFL.com.au provides an insight into his predictions of which Lion's players will be 'in the mix' ahead of Round 8 against Hawthorn.

After a couple of disappointing weeks, the Lions travel to Tasmania to take on coach Chris Fagan's former club Hawthorn.

With Mitch Robinson sidelined due to injury, Cedric Cox or Rohan Bewick could come in to replace him after strong showings in the NEAFL. 

Liam Dawson also impressed at the lower level and would be in the frame if Fagan wanted to make some changes after the heavy loss to the Swans.

Meanwhile, Ashley Browne of AFL.com.au predicts that injury to a number of Hawks players will force change to team selection ahead of Saturday.

The Hawks will need to make at least one forced change for the game in Launceston against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, with the luckless Grant Birchall set to miss for an extended period because of a suspected strained posterior cruciate.

It was his first game back after a four-week absence with a fractured jaw. Alastair Clarkson is unlikely to make many more changes to the team that held off the Demons for a gritty win on Sunday, although there is always the distinct possibility that Cyril Rioli will contract another bout of the 'Tasmanian flu' that has seen him miss the last four games at the University of Tasmania Stadium.

Hawthorn may look to recall Kaiden Brand to help counter the tall Lions forward line, however a like-for-like inclusion for Birchall might be Taylor Duryea or Brendan Whitecross.

We know Jaeger O’Meara won't play for a few weeks as the Hawks embark on a conditioning program to strengthen his troublesome knee, while Jonathan O'Rourke may have encountered further hamstring issues in the VFL last Saturday.