GEELONG is taking a cautious approach with highly rated youngster Nakia Cockatoo to ensure his recent hamstring problems become a thing of the past.

Cockatoo has not played since he hurt his hamstring against West Coast in round 13 after playing just 15 minutes in the first quarter.

He was playing just his second game back after missing a week with a hamstring injury suffered against the Western Bulldogs in round nine, when he lasted just 17 minutes.

The full injury list: round 18

"There has been a little bit of a change in tack in our approach to Nakia, given he has had some niggly little issues that haven't completely resolved, so we have just taken a much more conservative route with him," Scott said. 

The explosive 20-year-old has played 30 games since being pick No.10 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

His raw talent is obvious but he has not been able to play more than six consecutive games in a season due to knee and soft tissue injuries, as well as suspension.

The Cats expect him to be available next week but are debating whether he returns via the VFL or gets an immediate recall to the AFL.

Scott said regardless of that short-term decision, they are taking a long-term view.   

"The priority for us with him being a young player and being a real power athlete, a real fast-twitch athlete, [is] we are just not prepared to risk the possibility that he becomes a young player with a significant hamstring or soft-tissue injury history," Scott said.