Bendigo Bank Cats coach Leigh Tudor believes the Cats are in a better position to challenge for this year’s premiership than the side that last year went within a whisker of beating Sandringham in grand final.

The Cats begin their quest for a second VFL premiership on Sunday when they take on third-placed Coburg in the second qualifying final at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne.

Tudor is confident the Cats, who last season surged into the finals with one of the most inexperienced squads of the top four contenders, have improved in the major areas that define a side’s premiership credentials.

“We’re very similar to last year, I still think we’re a very tall side, but I think we’re a lot smarter than last year and use the ball a lot better than last year,” he said.

Up to four AFL-listed players are poised to return to the Cats’ squad on Sunday, including first -year pair Liam Bedford and Simon Hogan, who both missed last week’s victory over Bendigo.

“It looks like Liam Bedford and Simon Hogan will be back this week, which is fantastic because they’ve only missed the one week, so they’re raring to go,” Tudor said.

Max Rooke is in contention for an AFL recall just one week after returning from a serious hamstring injury, but is expected to line up in the VFL.

Geelong will send a precautionary emergency to Brisbane tomorrow, but this player will return to Melbourne on Sunday morning to play in the VFL if not required by the AFL on Saturday night.

Tudor said last week’s hard-fought triumph over fellow premiership contender Bendigo was perfect finals-like preparation heading into Sunday’s crucial clash.

“We had 10 VFL boys last week and we had a pretty inexperienced midfield and the Bendigo Bombers had a really experienced midfield, so it was a great test for our blokes and I think they played really well,” he said.

“The VFL is a good standard of footy. We’re going to be playing a team (Coburg) that not many teams have beaten this year and they’ve come out and done a really good job.

“They’re playing confident footy and we’re going to have to match them in a lot of areas to be successful.

“I went and watched them play against Sandringham last week and they looked really quick, they moved the ball really well and they pressured really well, so we expect a pretty big match.

“I know they’ve got a few of their qualified Richmond players so it will be a really good game.”

Tudor said he expects the Cats’ experienced players to stand up and lead the way like they have done so all season.

The last time Tudor heaped the pre-match onus on his mature players, the Cats toppled competition-leader Williamstown in what Tudor said was one his most satisfying victories as VFL coach.

“Tim Callan, Charlie Gardiner, Tom Lonergan – the guys that have been around for a few years – they’re the ones we want to continue to see playing well like they have been,” he said.

Geelong and Coburg have never met in a final before.

The last time the two sides played in round 17 at Skilled Stadium this season, the Cats unleashed a scintillating seven-goal second quarter to run out comfortable 37-point winners.

The Cats will need to snap a history of sluggish preliminary final performances if they are to win. The Cats have only won one of four qualifying/elimination finals since joining the VFL in 2000.

If the Cats win, they will have the week off and advance straight to the preliminary final.

If they lose, they will face a sudden-death semi-final against the winner of the Casey Scorpions-Port Melbourne elimination final.

Last year the Cats lost the qualifying final, but recovered to win the semi and preliminary final to reach the grand final.

The action gets underway from 1.10pm on Sunday.

The match will be broadcast live on ABC TV from 1pm and broadcast live on 1611 Double X AM from 1pm.

Entry is $15 for adults, $10 concession and children under 15 free. Geelong members are not entitled to discounted entry.

Geelong v Coburg

B:Bedford – Lonergan – Callan
HB:D Johnson – Playfair – Rooke
C:Davenport – Byrne – Gamble
HF:Grima – Spencer – Gardiner
F:West – Hawkins – Hogan
Foll:King – Prismall – Firman
Int from:Barnes, Thompson, Hollmer, Urie, Cheep, Clarke, Foss, R Butler, N Butler, Couch, Forbes, Lovick