Hawthorn could be without star duo Sam Mitchell and Brian Lake for up to a month after they were injured in Saturday’s massive win over St Kilda.

Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury in the first term and Lake hobbled from the field in the third quarter of the record 145-point win.

It was Lake’s second game back after recovering from another calf muscle injury that had delayed his start to the season.

They will miss this Friday night’s big match against Sydney at ANZ Stadium and the Hawks have the bye.

But given this is Lake’s second calf muscle problem in the space of a few weeks, the Hawks will be conservative with bringing him back.

There was also speculation on Sunday that Mitchell will not be ready to return immediately after the bye.

The Swans could regain former star Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin (knee) and Kurt Tippett (ribs) for the clash with the Hawks.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast ruckman Tom Nicholls had to be helped from the field after injuring his knee in Sunday’s upset win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Suns coach Guy McKenna said Nicholls was on crutches and would have scans on Monday.

But Essendon forward Jason Winderlich is hopeful he has dodged a major bullet.

Winderlich, who has already undergone one knee reconstruction in his AFL career, feared he would need another after Saturday night’s narrow win over the Western Bulldogs.

Opponent Adam Cooney fell across his knee during the frenetic last quarter.

But Winderlich was running along the boundary by the end of the game.

“It didn’t feel good when ‘Coons’ first fell across it … it was pretty painful early on,” Winderlich told Channel Nine’s Footy Show.

“But so far the signs aren’t too bad this morning, which is good – no major structural damage.

“If it still feels sore tomorrow, we’ll probably double-check it.

“It felt like my whole knee was stretched right out – not ideal.”