Coach Michael Voss said on Monday that while scans have shown no muscle damage to Black's calf, the 2002 Brownlow medallist battled a similar problem last season.
Voss said Black will have to complete a full week’s training before being considered for selection.
“The fluid has now got in his calf and it’s hanging around, so it seems to be affecting the dynamics,” Voss said.
“We want him fit and healthy, and we’ll make sure that he’s fit and healthy before we put him out there.
“At this stage we’re certainly not going to risk it … we’ll be more on the conservative side than necessarily the aggressive side with him.”
The Lions will regain suspended duo Ash McGrath and Mitch Clark for Saturday night’s showdown with Melbourne at the MCG.
The clash marks the Lions' only appearance at the 'G' for the season, and Voss said both McGrath and Clark will be fighting for their spots, with the players who downed the Bulldogs by 22 points at the Gabba on Saturday night given first priority.
“I think all of the players that played on the weekend did enough to be able to warrant their spot back, and then it comes down to what you need,” Voss said.
“It could be the fact that we feel like the 22 did such a great job that they deserve another go."
Voss said the players had set a high standard for themselves and should not be content with their unbeaten start to the season after four rounds. While it’s the Lions' best start to a season since 2002, Voss stopped short of suggesting his side is now an elite team.
“Geelong are elite, we hope to be,” Voss said.
“The players are reasonably confident and they have belief that we can compete against most sides; whether that makes us elite or not, I don’t think we’ve proven that.”
Voss said the challenge for the Lions was now the same as it was when he captained the side through its golden triple premiership era. They need to perform at a high standard every week, continuing with the in-form Demons on Saturday night.
“Not once did I ever come into a game thinking we would blow a team off the park, not once, and if we did, we probably lost,” Voss said.
“The warrior goes to war knowing that he has to have an edge to him, and he has to present himself in a fashion that he would do everything he possibly can no matter who his opponent is.
“That’s why Jonathan Brown has been so good over a long period of time. He doesn’t read or pick or choose when he wants to be good, he just knows that he’s got to prepare himself every single week … for the opposition.”
