GEELONG forward Daniel Menzel says he needed the help of psychologists to get over missing out on the Cats' 2011 premiership.

Menzel suffered the first of four ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments against the Hawks in that year's qualifying final and said missing out on playing in the Grand Final haunted him. 

"It's one that throughout my rehab I struggled with at times after missing out ... I held on to that a fair bit," he said.

"It did drive and motivate me but after speaking with psychologists who helped me overcome the pain of not being part of that you don't really think about that (any more) because it might make you down or flat or negative."

The Cats' qualifying final clash on Friday against old foes Hawthorn is packed with intriguing storylines but it's hard to beat Menzel's return to the big stage for feel-good factor. 

It will be Menzel's first final since that fateful night in September, 2011. 

"I've had a lot of people message to say that it's five years to the night against the same team at the same ground in the same final, which is uncanny, but to be honest it won't even cross my mind," Menzel said.

"We've done so much work in the gym and on the training track and got through so many games now - I know the work you put in does pay off. 

"I know that my body is strong and will hold up." 

The Cats star missed all of the `12, `13 and `14 seasons and most of 2015 as he went through the mentally and physically draining rehabilitation from four major knee operations.

Menzel called a groin injury suffered in round 20 as a blessing in disguise that has allowed him to freshen up for the Cats' finals campaign.