HAVING been impressed with the way Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh shared the rucking load against Adelaide last week, Geelong is set to field both big men in Sunday's clash against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
In his first official game for the Cats, McIntosh was the story of the win over the Crows, gathering 12 disposals and booting a team-lifting running goal.
Simpson also had an impact, winning 17 hit-outs before being subbed out of the game in the third quarter.
"We're a better than even-money chance of going in with the two big ruckmen again," Cats coach Chris Scott said on Tuesday.
"We can't guarantee which way we're going to go at the moment.
"I think we've been pretty up-front in saying that Dawson and Hamish won't play every week, but we think it's a real bonus that we don't need to necessarily choose between the two of them each week.
"Having them in combination is an asset for us."
The Cats are wary that the Lions now have an imposing rucking duo of their own, with 2011 Geelong premiership player Trent West working in tandem with Matthew Leuenberger.
"We've got high regard for Trent West, obviously, and Matty Leuenberger's one of the best ruckmen in the competition," Scott said.
Geelong forward Mitch Brown, who kicked three goals against Adelaide in one of the best games of his injury-plagued career, is only a 50-50 chance to line up against the Lions.
He rolled his ankle during the win over the Crows when he stepped on another player's foot.
"He certainly hasn't been ruled out," Scott said. "It's one we have to monitor.
"Of all the players who played (against the Crows), we're 99 per cent sure of all of them except Mitch."
The Cats certainly won't be taking the Lions lightly after the clubs played out a pair of gripping contests last year.
When they met in round 13, Geelong led by 52 points late in the third term.
But the Lions kicked 10 of the last 11 goals, with Ashley McGrath handing them a miraculous five-point win by slotting a 50m bomb after the final siren.
It was equal-eighth greatest comeback in VFL/AFL history.
"That's ancient history, as far as I'm concerned," Scott said. "It's so long ago.
"We came off the bye and played Brisbane before two very difficult games in Hawthorn and Fremantle."
The Cats also had their hands full with the Lions in the final round of the home and away season, holding on to win by just a point.
"Our ladder position was locked in … and we didn't play very well, but we still won," Scott said.
Nevertheless, the Geelong coach was quick to add: "We've got a lot of respect for the way (the Lions) went about it last week against Hawthorn, for most of the game, and they've got some weapons that we need to counter.
"This early in the season, we were pretty encouraged by our performance last week against Adelaide.
"But even still, we look at that game and think there are big areas of improvement.
"If we don't improve, Brisbane have the capabilities for exploiting us."
