Johnson, 25, has taken a conservative path into competitive work this pre-season with a focus on obtaining full fitness for round one.
He will make his return to the field this weekend, along with fellow forward Tom Hawkins who has battled foot fractures since the middle of last season.
"It's always a long pre-season and some guys have played up to three games now so I'm just itching to get out there," Johnson said.
Johnson warned fans that both he and Hawkins – who hasn't played senior football since round 10 last year – could make understated returns.
"I wouldn't expect too much. He's only just gotten back into full training and like me, he'll just be glad to get out there and blow out a few cobwebs," he said.
"Hopefully he's 100 per cent by the time round one comes around."
Johnson said Hawkins could be set for a turnaround season after his second half of 2008 was ruined by persistent foot problems.
"He's had a lot of bad luck, and there's no doubt he's got a lot of talent. Everyone has been eagerly awaiting him to come onto the scene and make a big impact but those injuries have held him back," he said.
"This is a good chance for him to showcase some of those things."
Johnson also said the debut of young defender Tom Gillies, who came to the club at pick No.33 in last year's draft, is reason to be excited about Saturday night's game.
"You don't really see too many players like Tom Gillies come through. He's just one of those players who will give his best all day," he said.
"He's shown in the pre-season he's capable of playing senior footy pretty early in his career, and he's a really determined full-back, like Matthew Scarlett."
Johnson said the Cats' improving depth has ensured the senior players have remained on their guard this pre-season, and will continue to be aware of the emerging crop of up and comers throughout the year.
"We've always felt like there is pressure coming from underneath. Our younger players, as they showed last week, got an opportunity and they played well," he said.
"We know if they're going to get an opportunity to play, they know what their role is going to be and they'll be ready for it.
"There's a major emphasis on developing those players because the senior players can't be around forever, so we need them learning the right way to play."
While Johnson hasn't played yet this pre-season, he's taken notice of the zoning phenomenon that is sweeping the league and attracting plenty of disapproval.
However, the Cats' forward isn't critical of the practice and believes it will eventuate in the standard of the game improving overall.
"If sides are zoning, it's going to force sides to become more skilful as the only way to break down zoning is to take the game on and really back yourself," he said.
"While sides might struggle with it early in the season, you can definitely get through that flooding and zoning.
"We've shown that we're a pretty skilful side and that's something every side has probably been working on over the summer, and we've been working on it for two to three years."
Dream Team watch – Steve Johnson is rated a $408,400 forward in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
