STEVE Johnson will be an automatic inclusion for his 250th game when Geelong plays Hawthorn in a blockbuster at the MCG on Saturday.
The 32-year-old missed last week's win against the Sydney Swans due to suspension but Cats coach Chris Scott confirmed the proven big game performer would play in the vital clash.
"He's ready to go. His body is in good shape. We would have loved to have him in the team last week but the positive of him missing is that physically, we think he will be in better shape for this one," Scott said.
"He is a lock and we are confident he will play well."
Scott said he thought Johnson's belief was that he owed the club a good performance after being suspended and had no doubt he would be raring to go.
"He's always been a self starter and I am really confident in what he can bring to the table," Scott said.
Scott also took time to reflect on Johnson's contribution to the club during his career as he headed into the milestone game.
"I feel like in the last five years I have had the best seat in the house to the Stevie J show … our supporters love him and he's been a little underrated for the impact he has had on this football club culturally," Scott said.
When Scott arrived at the club in 2011 he was not surprised by what Johnson could do on the field, but noted that the veteran could explain his creativity better than most.
"I knew he was a genius on the field. The part that surprised me a little bit is how conscious it is. Some of those magicians on the field do it without knowing how they get it done," Scott said.
"He can explain to me exactly what he is thinking, which makes for an entertaining conversation.
However the coach knows there won't be much time for reflecting on the weekend with the Cats having to play at their absolute best to present a challenge to the Hawks.
Their defence has improved significantly during the four consecutive wins, restricting opposition scores and inside 50s.
The reduction of the Cats' injury list and the return of midfielders Mitch Duncan and Jimmy Bartel has also helped turn things around, but Scott emphasised that would mean little on Saturday night.
"Are we better placed now than we were six weeks ago, absolutely, but it doesn't get it done for us this week," Scott said.
"The games against Hawthorn and Geelong traditionally have been really fierce contests. That's what I'm hoping we can provide and to be brutal about it the onus is on us to make sure it's a competitive game. I think most football observers will be pretty confident in what they are going to get from the Hawks."
The Hawks have won four of their past five encounters against the Cats after breaking an 11-game losing streak in the 2013 preliminary final.
Scott also dismissed a Herald Sun report that connected Geelong to controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank.
"It [the report] was a pretty convoluted and sensationalist way of saying [that] back in 2009 the club did nothing wrong," Scott said.
