GEELONG will have "disappointed players" once team selection is finalised ahead of Friday night's preliminary final against the Sydney Swans, according to coach Chris Scott.
Scott said the club would be devastated for anyone who misses out on selection but such decisions were an unfortunate fact of life at this time of the season.
"It's good for the footy club and it's good for the team that we have got lots of options, but we will have disappointed players and unlucky players to miss out," Scott said.
Scott said flexibility was vital against the Swans, but the 22 who played in the qualifying final were in the box seat to win selection.
However, with Lachie Henderson fit and available at least one change is likely but Scott said veteran Jimmy Bartel was more likely than not to be in the team.
The Sydney Swans have the best scoring record in the first 20 minutes of games, having outscored the opposition by 241 points in that part of games this season.
The Swans showed against Adelaide on Saturday night the damage they can cause if they win the ball and move it quickly into space.
Scott said matching the opposition's intensity early was going to be a challenge, particularly coming off a 14-day break, but the Cats have trained to prepare for the contest.
"There is only so much you can do physically but I don't have any doubt that going into a preliminary final against one of the best teams in the competition, we'll be underprepared mentally for the fierceness of the contest," Scott said.
The Cats are fast finishers having won 19 final quarters in the home and away season.
Scott said they would not spend much time speculating on whether Kurt Tippett, Gary Rohan, Callum Mills or Jarrad McVeigh would play given they are all under injury clouds.
He said putting pressure on Josh Kennedy would be important but stopping his effectiveness was a tough ask.
"If you could completely stop Kennedy getting the ball that would be a win but that is unlikely. We just have to make sure we put enough pressure on him when he does get it and limit the effectiveness of those guys getting it to their outside runners," Scott said.
