Mitchell last week committed to terms with the club for 2017.

Burgoyne and Mitchell will both be 34 by next season, while Gibson turns 33 in  March and Hodge turned 32 earlier this month. Gibson, Burgoyne and Hodge are all out of contract at season's end.

But Clarkson said he wanted the experienced trio to play next year, despite speculation the Hawks were looking to gradually phase out their veterans to prevent a mass exodus in coming seasons.

"It would be our preference if they all did [play on]," Clarkson said on Saturday. "They're all champions and those other three have been consistent again."

Burgoyne, Gibson and Mitchell have missed just three games between them this season.

Hodge joined his teammates in travelling to Launceston on Saturday ahead of Sunday's clash with lowly Gold Coast. The match will be the skipper's first since hurting his knee against Greater Western Sydney in round six.

Speaking at Melbourne Airport before boarding the flight to Tasmania, Clarkson said the Hawks weren't risking the captain, despite a school of thought that he should be kept out for another fortnight given Hawthorn have the bye next weekend.

"We wouldn't have picked him unless we knew he was going to play," Clarkson said.

"He has been a long time out ... hopefully he'll play well and then have an extended break and be ready for Port Adelaide after the bye."

Clarkson was non-committal about where Hodge would play against the Suns, who have lost their last nine games.

"He has done a strong enough block of training for him to play as we see fit, so we will be guided by the conditions, the opposition and his fatigue."

But Clarkson said he thought Hodge could have a sizeable impact in the second half of the year.

"He's captain of our club and he's one of the most decorated players in the competition, and has been for the best part of a dozen years – we've missed that, but that'll only really be measured by what impact he can have in the second half of the year, but we're hopeful that'll be profound."

The Suns may be struggling, but Clarkson said they would still provide a challenge for Hawthorn (10-3), especially given their improved form in recent weeks; The Suns were competitive against Sydney in round 11 before nearly toppling Richmond at the MCG in round 12.

"They've turned the corner in terms of their injuries," Clarkson said. "Looking through their side, they have some really talented players and, if they bring their best and we're a little bit off ours, it will be a really tough game."

The Hawks will be without star Cyril Rioli, who has travelled to the Northern Territory to attend a family funeral.