GEELONG defenders Andrew Mackie and Tom Ruggles will return against West Coast in a game that will give both teams a better indication of how they are travelling in 2016.

Mackie and Ruggles were effectively rested last week, with Mackie suffering from general soreness and Ruggles managed after his first two senior games.

The Cats will also consider ruckman Rhy Stanley, who missed last week through illness, to counter in-form West Coast star Nic Naitanui.

Geelong coach Chris Scott confirmed the two defenders would be included but wouldn't say which players would miss the game, although small defender Jed Bews would appear the obvious out for Ruggles.

He said the Cats were willing to rest players to ensure they had a squad ready to assume critical roles during an arduous season.

"[It's] more of a long-term play," Scott said.

"In terms of the physical preparation of the players and the health of those individuals we think it has had a little bit of an impact, but the greater priority for us right at the moment is getting exposure over a bigger group to AFL football."

In the past month the Cats have given Ruggles, Mackie, Corey Enright, Lachie Henderson, Cory Gregson, Darcy Lang and Lincoln McCarthy a chance to freshen up with a week off football.

"There is no doubt in our mind it is going to be an arduous season and players are going to feel the pinch towards the end of the season, which probably means you're going to get a few injuries as well," Scott said.

"If you play the same 22 each week and then you get a few injuries late you'll be bringing in guys that haven't really been exposed to the level."

Apart from long-term injuries to Jackson Thurlow, Scott Selwood and Mitch Clark, the Cats have had a relatively good run with injuries up until round six.

They have used 27 players but only 12 have played every game so far in 2016.

Only four clubs struggling for form (Collingwood, Gold Coast, Richmond and Port Adelaide) have fewer players to have appeared in every game, while ladder leaders North Melbourne have 19 players to have run out each week.

Meanwhile Scott said it was only logical for the Cats to be granted a home final at Simonds Stadium if the integrity of the competition was to be maintained.

Geelong lost a final at Simonds Stadium to Fremantle in 2013 and it would be expected that the merits of the Cats hosting a final at Simonds Stadium against another Victorian team would be fiercely debated.

The Simonds Stadium final occurred during the first week of the finals when there were four finals played in Victoria.