GEELONG's Scott Selwood will find out the results of scans on his injured hamstring by Sunday, after the midfielder pulled up short in Friday night's VFL practice match against Werribee.
Trying to press his claims for a round one berth against Collingwood after missing the Cats' two JLT Community Series games because of hamstring tightness, Selwood left the field midway through the third quarter at Avalon Airport Oval and did not return.
The Cats are hopeful the scans will show only a minor strain and that his time on the sidelines will be short.
It is a disappointing setback for the 28-year-old after he gathered 11 disposals in the opening half of the game against Werribee.
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Selwood had enjoyed a strong pre-season until the hamstring tightness flared in February, but the consistency of his program meant that he was far better prepared for 2019 than he was for previous seasons.
Meanwhile, ruckmen Ryan Abbott and Darcy Fort put in solid performances against Werribee to give themselves a chance to play against the Pies at the MCG next Friday night, with Esava Ratugolea in doubt with a finger injury.
Ratugolea will face a fitness test ahead of the clash with the Pies after dislocating his finger at training in recent days.
Should the 20-year-old be unavailable, Abbott – who did not play in the pre-season competition because of a back injury – or Fort could get a call up to play with No.1 big man Rhys Stanley in the ruck.
Fort, 25, was drafted by Geelong with pick No.65 in last year's NAB AFL Draft and featured in both the Cats' JLT Series games against West Coast and Essendon, albeit on limited minutes.
Forward Wylie Buzza could also be considered in the Cats' reshuffle, while it is understood Abbott has come back into calculations after an interrupted pre-season with hamstring tendinitis and a back concern.
The Cats' other ruckman, Zac Smith, is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in February.