FEW PEOPLE are giving Geelong a realistic chance of toppling a red-hot Sydney at the MCG on Friday night, but forward Tom Hawkins says the Cats are taking a positive approach into their do-or-die semi-final clash. 

The Cats were smashed by 51 points by a rampant Richmond last Friday night, leading to significant questions about their finals credentials. 

"There is no point in feeling sorry for yourself and getting down and wondering, what if," Hawkins said.

"Our message is to tackle this week head on. 

"There are a lot of people outside the footy club wondering if we can win this week, but inside the footy club we're really excited about the challenge."

Since winning the 2011 flag, Geelong has a 2-8 win-loss record in finals games.

Hawkins said the Cats could not afford to dwell on that.

"I haven't been aware that our finals record is good, bad or indifferent," he said.

"What I do know is that competition is bloody even and finals game are very hard to win.

"I'm sure if you asked the other three clubs that lost on the weekend, they'd probably sit and agree with the fact that finals are hard to win."

The Cats will be forced to make at least one change for the Swans clash, with midfielder Cameron Guthrie succumbing to a calf injury and Jake Kolodjashnij battling a similar, yet less significant, injury.

Guthrie's absence opens the door for Daniel Menzel to make his return to a forward line that booted just five goals against the Tigers. 

Menzel, out of contract at season's end, was controversially dropped for Friday night's clash against Richmond, with the Cats preferring to take in a smaller forward line to aid Hawkins and Harry Taylor.

"Dan's certainly in the mix for this week," Hawkins said.

"It gives him another week to rest his body. 

"I'm not sure how we're going to look this weekend, but he's certainly right in the mix."

• Forecast the road to the flag with the AFL Finals Predictor