Hawthorn captain James Sicily will miss the Hawks’ next two season-defining matches after a flare-up of an abdominal/hip injury.

Sicily has been managing the pain in recent weeks, however further discomfort and subsequent scans on Monday revealed the concern had worsened.

He will sit out Thursday night’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium and the Round 14 trip to Launceston to face Adelaide.

7NEWS understands the Hawks were planning on resting the skipper for the date with the Crows ahead of the Round 15 bye in order to give him a full fortnight’s rest.

However, that plan has been brought forward a week after he felt pain following the loss to Collingwood last Friday night. He recorded six disposals for the match — his lowest count in a full game since 2016.

Sicily confirmed to 7NEWS before Hawthorn’s round 10 loss to Gold Coast in Darwin that he had been managing an ongoing groin issue but that he was never in doubt to miss what was a five-day break.

In the weeks following, coach Sam Mitchell had also been strongly defensive of his captain after a recent dip in form.

It’s understood Sicily’s strength markers had increased in recent weeks before his latest hiccup.

Sicily was reduced to an onlooker for Tuesday’s physical main session at Waverley Park.

Mitchell is due to be the headline guest on Tuesday night’s episode of The Agenda Setters on 7plus and 7Mate.