It will see assistant coach Jacob Jackomas take the reins for a crunch clash with reigning champions Melbourne United at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

"Brian is feeling fine and is in good spirits, despite the enforced isolation," Hawks co-owner and president Dorry Koradhi said.

"Brian is still heavily involved in the team's preparation for our game against United and this will be a great test for the team as we work towards our third straight win."

The timing could not be worse, with Goorjian returning the positive test as his team fights for its finals life down the final stretch of the season.

It's a cruel twist after Goorjian miraculously escaped the COVID outbreak that ripped through the club just three weeks into the regular season. It was thought to have freed the club of COVID concerns for later on the season, only for the mastercoach to be struck down at a crucial time.

Read more: Goorjian backs Cleveland over clash with Tasmania coach

The Hawks looked in dire straights following the second of two disappointing losses to Tasmania a fortnight ago, but righted the ship with a home win over South East Melbourne and vengeful 26-point pasting of the JackJumpers last start.

It leaves them in fourth spot with eight wins from their past 11 games, but they face a tough run home in their effort to remain there at the final regular-season buzzer.

Following Sunday's showdown, they'll host United in a return clash in Wollongong on Saturday week, with home and away fixtures against the 7-13 Bullets shaping as banana peel games.

Beyond that they have a home clash with arch-rivals Sydney and will finish their season with a brutal final-round road double against the Kings and Perth.

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