SCOTT Selwood will return, however key defender Mark Blicavs remains in doubt for what would be the biggest test of his career in Geelong's clash with Sydney on Thursday night.
Selwood will add a much-needed defensive boost to the Cats' line-up that lost to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, the midfielder having been managed on limited game time in the VFL.
Coach Chris Scott said his side would be better balanced in Selwood's first AFL game back since round seven after a back injury.
Blicavs spent part of the weekend in a moon boot after injuring his toe and trained away from the main group during Tuesday's main session.
He completed individual running before having a conversation with medical staff and doing stationary ball work ahead of an impending bout with Swans superstar Lance Franklin.
"We think he'll be fine, it always looks a bit worse than it is generally when someone goes into a boot. He's got a sore toe, that's literally the feedback to me," Chris Scott said before training on Tuesday.
Should Blicavs prove his fitness and fly to Sydney, Scott said he would "probably" get the first chance at playing on Franklin, who missed the Swans' come-from-behind win over Geelong in round seven.
"It depends a little bit on where Buddy plays, if he's deep it is a little bit different (or) if he pushes up into the midfield," Scott said.
"We need to be prepared for both, but I think he's a pretty damaging player closer to goal, Blicavs has generally been the one who takes those match-ups, that's the most likely.
"Mark's certainly the type or person and player who would relish the challenge.
"Obviously whenever you play on Buddy you're a bit nervous about what might happen, but I don't think he'll be going into his shell thinking about the prospect."
Scott said the club's leaders would again be integral in avoiding the club's third consecutive loss.
"Our guys (leaders) have a really strong pattern of fronting up when we don't perform as well as we would've liked," he said.
"We’ve got great confidence that when those guys don't feel we're playing as well as we would like, that they're the most influential ones in changing that."
Forward Daniel Menzel will be nursed through Sunday's VFL clash with Frankston, just four days ahead of his scheduled AFL return against Adelaide in round 17.
"He'll probably get some minutes (in the VFL) but it'll be very limited, more (of) a training focus to make sure he's OK next Thursday," Scott said.
"It would be a big surprise if he didn't take the field against the Crows in Adelaide."
Lachie Henderson will join Menzel for his fourth consecutive match in the VFL as he continues to build up from a long-term knee setback.
Nakia Cockatoo (tonsillitis), Cory Gregson (foot soreness), George Horlin-Smith (calf tightness) and Stewart Crameri (eye surgery) missed the VFL action last week but are expected to return.
The Cats will play at the SCG for the first time since round 11, 2014, a Thursday night when they lost by 110 points, their heaviest defeat since 1990.
