THE MOMENT opposition defenders start to worry about him is when Geelong premiership defender Harry Taylor will know the experiment of throwing him forward is starting to work.
After spending his career attempting to quell the influence of the game's superstars such as Lance Franklin and Nick Riewoldt, Taylor is preparing to play forward.
That is not news in itself, given the subject has been one of football's hottest topics this pre-season, but the fascination in the role remains.
On Monday, just four days before the Cats take on Hawthorn in the opening game of the JLT Community Series opener, it's all anyone wants to talk about.
Taylor says the exact nature of his role remains subject to what happens in the pre-season as he works alongside the club's leading forward, Tom Hawkins.
"[I'll] probably have to have 12 quarters of footy to work out exactly what it [my role] is going to be," he said on Monday.
"At this stage, I'm just up there trying to play like any other forward is and demand the footy when it is in my area, be intense at the ball and provide a contest and, really importantly, defend well when the ball is up our end."
Forward pressure was left to too few at Geelong in 2016 and Taylor will look to redress the balance in that area but he knows he must hit the scoreboard too.
He cites kicking at goal as one area he needs to improve, having kicked 45.28 in his 204-game career.
Taylor knows those inside 50, fairly or unfairly, are often judged on how many goals they kick.
He won't, however, be drawn on how many majors will constitute a pass mark when the year ends.
"You will have to ask Scotty [Geelong coach Chris Scott] that one, but hopefully more goals than points," Taylor said.
At this stage he has a slightly more subtle measure of success.
"As a forward I hope if I can get to a level where the player playing on me is a bit worried as well, I'll know I'm doing my job," Taylor said.
Although Taylor seems certain to play against Hawthorn on Friday night in Launceston, he said he was unsure whether Hawkins would line up for the Cats.
The Cats said last week Hawkins was in the mix after a solid month of training.
Daniel Menzel joined in match simulation at the Waurn Ponds oval while Lachie Henderson and Scott Selwood joined the rehab group and are unlikely starters.
Skipper Joel Selwood has ruled himself out of Friday night's game, but is planning to build up his program in Geelong's final two matches of the pre-season competition.
