A COUPLE of Hawks may have more to worry about than playing against Gold Coast in Launceston this weekend.

Ben McEvoy and Paul Puopolo both have heavily pregnant wives back home in Melbourne who are counting down the hours until labour.

It poses a potentially tricky situation for Hawthorn, who of course will not stand in the way of either father-to-be going home for the birth of their children.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says they have cover, should they need it.

“Ben McEvoy’s wife’s about to go into labour, so (Marc Pittonet is) travelling for us just in case that labour occurs over the next 24 hours — then Ben probably won’t play but we’ll just wait and see how that unfolds”, Clarkson said.

“Paul Puopolo’s going through exactly the same thing with his wife, Carmel, and so if both the girls go into labour then both those guys may not play but we’ll just wait and see how it all unfolds.

“We’re taking Tei Miles as our other travelling emergency.”

As for the specific details surrounding both pregnancies, Clarkson says he’s far from qualified to be providing updates.

“That’ll all depend on the pregnancy”, he laughed off with a grin.

“I’m hardly an expert in that space.”