GEELONG coach Chris Scott isn't sure the Cats have the formula to beat ladder-topping Adelaide, but key defender Tom Lonergan is expected to return to help combat the potent Crows forward line.
Lonergan, 33, was managed last week for the Cats' two-point win over Port Adelaide but Chris Scott said he would almost certainly return to face the Crows on Friday night at Simonds Stadium.
It shapes as an important inclusion, with the Crows boasting six multiple goal kickers – with skipper and key forward Taylor Walker managing just one – last Saturday night against Fremantle in the wet.
"They are a forward line where if one doesn't get you, the other will," Scott said on Wednesday.
"I could go on and on about the challenges that they present.
"Their talls are really strong. [Tom] Lynch is an important player for them, connecting them from the back half, [Andy] Otten has added a new dimension since [Mitch] McGovern went out, their small forwards are as good as anyone's.
"When their midfield is on top, they give them pretty good delivery, so it's multi-faceted.
"If you stop them marking the ball, they've proved at ground level they're really dangerous as well, and the wet slippery conditions don't worry them too much, as they handled the ball well last week in some pretty horrible conditions.
"The last thing I want to do is sit here and say we've got the formula against Adelaide. I just don't believe that's the case."
Scott said they wouldn't take risks with third-year player Nakia Cockatoo, but he remained a chance to play after he missed a week with a hamstring injury.
"In terms of game time he's missed, it's pretty minor and I don't think that will be a huge factor," he said.
"The more relevant thing is how minor the actual injury was, but we feel like we've already been conservative there … he's well and truly in contention."
As far as surprise selections this week are concerned, Scott indicated it's unlikely they'll spring one when teams are announced on Thursday night.
But, he said young forward pair Wylie Buzza and Esava Ratugolea had made sizeable claims for an AFL debut this season after it looked unlikely as recently as four months ago.
"[Buzza] is pushing his case," he said.
"He in and Esava have really generated some excitement at VFL level for developing players.
"They would have appeared to be a fair way away from AFL selection through the pre-season but they're a lot closer now than they were there.
"Wylie is ahead of Esava, he's still a very young player early in his journey but it wouldn't be out of the realms of possibility that Wylie Buzza will just play so well, he'll force his way into our team at some stage this year."
Power forward Tom Hawkins will play his 200th game on Friday night after a career that featured early ebbs and flows as he grew into his role.
Scott said it was fitting the 28-year-old was now seen as "symbolic" for young forwards who struggled to adapt to the AFL in their early years.
"I think he should take a degree of pride that he's put up as the poster boy for someone who came in with big expectations and had his fair share of difficulties and criticism from outside, but worked his way to a position where he's one of the key leaders in our team, and one of our best players as well," he said.
"He's a great example for who we would like our players to be on and off the field."
