GEELONG skipper Joel Selwood will play against Essendon on Saturday after recovering from the rolled right ankle he suffered against Gold Coast last weekend.

Selwood was on crutches the day after the game and the Cats were concerned he may miss this week, but he has recovered well.

Cats coach Chris Scott confirmed Selwood had made good progress since the injury.

"He'll be fine," Scott said. 

"We were a little bit circumspect post-game, but it was pretty clear early in the week that he was going to be OK."

The Cats have two six-day breaks between games after Saturday night's Country Festival clash, but Scott said that was not a factor in determining Selwood's availability.

Essendon coach John Worsfold said his former skipper Jobe Watson was refreshed after a week off and was still capable of playing exceptional football.

"I think we have seen it already this year and he is still going to have a big influence on games. I have no doubt about that," Worsfold said.

Worsfold said James Kelly's 300-game milestone had turned the week into a Kelly festival to mark the occasion. 

He said Kelly's former Cats' teammates had contributed to a humorous video the Bombers had shown acknowledging his career, which has seen him play 26 games at Essendon after 273 with Geelong.

Worsfold said the extension of Kelly's career at the Bombers was more preferable than wearing a business shirt as he had in the month after he retired from Geelong and before he began with Essendon as a top-up player.

Scott said Kelly had done well to extend his career, but said his efforts at Geelong had been brilliant.

"Over the course of his career he has been a star, All-Australian player, multiple premiership player, really good teammate on the field and I'm sure the Essendon guys are working out he is a pretty good teammate – if a little bit annoying off the field as well," Scott said.