Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston was a notable absentee from training on Tuesday.

Gunston is racing against time to prove his fitness for Friday night’s AFL preliminary final against Fremantle at Domain Stadium.

The 23-year-old injured his ankle in the Hawks’ qualifying final loss to West Coast and was substituted.

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That problem ruled him out of last week’s 74-point thrashing of Adelaide at the MCG, a victory that saw Hawthorn reach the preliminary finals for the fifth year in a row.

Gunston was the only Hawk to miss Tuesday’s session at Waverley Park.

Back-up ruckman Jon Cellar trained after a bout of gastro over the weekend, and he is in the mix for selection giving the wide expanses of Domain Stadium.

Gunston has kicked 53 goals in 23 matches this year and is one of six Hawthorn players in the AFL’s 40-man all-Australian squad.

The official all-Australian team will be unveiled later on Tuesday evening.