MOST punters and pundits seem to rate Geelong as the weakest of the three teams that finished the home and away season on 17 wins.

But there's no shortage of confidence in the Cats' camp ahead of Friday night's qualifying final against Hawthorn.

"There's a great feeling within the playing group," skipper Joel Selwood said on Monday afternoon. 

"We worked all year to get in the position that we have, and we've given ourselves a double chance, but hopefully we don't need to use that.

"We've had a young group of players that went through the finals series last year, which was a great experience for them.

"But then we also had the heartbreak of the prelim final (loss to Hawthorn), and lessons learnt." 

Added Cats coach Chris Scott: "We do have a quiet confidence that our players perform their best when it counts the most.

"It's an exciting time of year, especially when you're taking really good form into the finals and you've qualified high enough to give yourselves the best chance at it.

"Feels like it's been a little bit of a long road to this point. It's a tough competition and it's been hard work, but to some extent we start again now. 

"And we go in against really good opposition in the first week of the finals, but giving ourselves a very good chance."

The rivalry between Geelong and Hawthorn has grown stronger and stronger in the years since the Hawks toppled the Cats in the 2008 Grand Final.

Geelong won 11 consecutive matches against Hawthorn before falling five points short in last year's preliminary final.

The Cats then beat the Hawks on Easter Monday, only for Alastair Clarkson's side to turn the tables once more with a come-from-behind victory in round 22.

"We love playing Hawthorn," Selwood said. "They enjoy playing us, too, I think.

"I wouldn't use the word hate, but I wouldn't say the sides like each other. But we definitely respect them."

There was a feeling that both teams kept a few aces up their sleeve when they last met.

Yet the Cats finished the game with plenty to work to do after conceding 10 consecutive goals during the third and fourth quarters.

But the likely inclusion of Steve Johnson will be among a host of changes to the way the sides go about their business this time around.

"I suspect some parts of the game will be played differently," Scott said. "They'll adjust, we'll adjust and the merry-go-round will continue after that.

"But I think over a long period of time these two sides have played really competitive footy, and I think on that level at least, this one will be pretty similar."

Geelong rested ruckman Hamish McIntosh and midfielders Steven Motlop and Allen Christensen from their game against the Brisbane Lions last weekend.

All three had been battling minor niggles in the latter stages of the season.

However, Scott said: "Our expectation at the moment is that they'll be fine."