WYLIE Buzza is buzzing about the prospect of playing in his first AFL final, but the young Geelong forward knows he's far from over the line when it comes to selection.

Buzza, 21, has played six games since his debut in round 15, including the Cats' last two.

While he said he was "quietly confident" of retaining his spot for the blockbuster qualifying final clash with Richmond next Friday night at the MCG, he acknowledged he wasn't a lock.

"It would be special if I got the chance; I wouldn't say I'm any certainty to play," Buzza said on Wednesday.

"You never know in footy. I've been in and out of the team in the last few weeks, so it's hard to be certain.

"We've got some great players to pick from, but if I do get the opportunity, I'll be quite rapt."

There are a few complicating matters for Buzza, the first being the team's best structure to face the Tigers, who have played just one ruckman, in Toby Nankervis, in their last two games.

Spearhead Tom Hawkins and utility Mark Blicavs returned last week, and with Harry Taylor surely set to play forward to attempt to replicate the job he did on Alex Rance in round 21, they're looking tall ahead of the ball.

And, as they remain hopeful that captain Joel Selwood will be declared fit to return from ankle surgery, there will be at least one change to last week's line up.

"He'll give himself every chance," defender Tom Stewart said.

"I think everyone knows what Joel is like, so he'll leave no stone unturned."

Still, Buzza is allowing himself to dream about running out in front of the biggest crowd he would have ever played in front of.

The Cats-Tigers final will be a sellout, which will see the crowd surge way beyond the previous biggest he's played before – 47,889 versus Collingwood in round 21.

"If you had told me 12 months ago I'd in a position where I'd be up for selection to play a final at the MCG against Richmond, I would have told you you were stupid," he said.

"I'm sure if I get the chance I will be nervous, I've never played in front of 90,000-plus people.

"There's a good chance there'll be some nerves there, but it doesn't take you long to get that out of your head because you're too busy trying to get some air in."

Since coming to the club at pick No.69 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, Buzza has improved from the lanky kid who had played 80 games over four years in Queensland.

He's worked closely with Nigel Lappin, who is his "duty of care" coach as well as a development coach at the Cats, focused on improving his athleticism, endurance, strength, running patterns and ruck craft.

He has also focused on improving a sight deficiency that was picked up by his under 18s coach when he played in Queensland.

Buzza has a lazy eye, which can affect his depth perception, but regular exercises have improved things.

"It's just something that I continually to work at," he said.

"It's as simple as putting your finger out in front of you and trying to get two points of vision to it, seeing two fingers – double vision – and moving it back and forth.

"It did [affect me] early on but I think it's past me now. If I drop a mark, I probably wouldn't blame it on my eyes, I would blame it on not great touch.

"It's probably past me now and I've just got to improve my craft."