Ottens played five of the first six games in 2010 but has been sidelined for the past two months with a stress reaction in his foot.
However, he returned to full training this week and Thursday's main session at Skilled Stadium will give coach Mark Thompson a good idea of the big man's fitness.
After playing just three premiership season games before the 2009 finals, Ottens told geelongcats.com.au he was looking forward to building match fitness before the Cats' tilt at a third flag in four years.
“It will take me a while to get some games under my belt but hopefully I won’t be too far behind this year,” he said.
“If it all goes well, I’ll be able to string together a solid block of games in the lead-up to September. I am looking forward to it.”
Ottens said the foot injury was a new complaint unrelated to any other ailments he had suffered through his 13-year career.
He admitted to some frustration at another long spell on the sidelines but said it was a better outcome than his injury-blighted 2009 campaign.
“My initial thought was to have a bit of a sulk but that’s footy, it is physically demanding and you get injured - that is the way it goes I suppose,” he said.
“It is frustrating but six to eight weeks (out) I was pretty happy to take that.
"Having only played six last year, to play 14 games or so this year will be a pretty good result.”
