GEELONG midfielder Cameron Guthrie appears set to miss Sunday's clash with North Melbourne due to a lingering calf injury.

Guthrie was named in the Cats' round one team, but withdrew two days before last Sunday's game against Fremantle with calf soreness. 

Cats coach Chris Scott told reporters on Wednesday it was too early to make a definitive call on Guthrie's availability to take on North, but said the club would not take any risks with the 24-year-old. 

Match preview: Geelong v North Melbourne

"It's still early in our preparation, so it’s hard to get clarity, but one thing's for sure we will be really conservative with him," Scott said.

"He's had a couple of minor issues. It's two in a month now. 

"We would treat all our players cautiously in these circumstances, but he's been a very, very good player for us and we need to make sure when he comes back he's ready to perform at 100 per cent.

"Now that involves conditioning as well, given he's missed a fair portion of training." 

Ruckman Zac Smith is likely to be available after missing the Dockers game with soreness, raising the prospect he could line up alongside Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs to combat the Kangaroos' brigade of talls.

North will be without Jarrad Waite (shoulder) but Majak Daw is a chance to join fellow big men Todd Goldstein, Braydon Preuss and Ben Brown.

Scott said the AFL's new "no third-man up" rule would not have a bearing on the decision to play three talls.

"We did all of last year virtually. I think the results suggests it's effective," Scott said.

"Now the stoppage is a bit more stable it gives us some different looks, with Mark and his height and reach around the stoppage at ground level still an asset for us.

"He's the best transition runner we have in our team by far. That's without even talking about what he could give us in our back half as well, so we think we've got options with him."

Geelong will start comfortable favourites in Sunday's game, but Scott said the rebuilding Kangaroos should not be underestimated.

"They looked to have West Coast, who I think are probably the best team in the competition at the moment, on the ropes early in the game on the weekend," he said.

"They're missing some personnel when you compare them to last year but clearly their football at times this year has been at a high level."