THE PROSPECT of playing a final against Richmond in front of 90,000-plus people at the MCG has Cats midfielder Mitch Duncan excited, despite the lower-ranked Tigers benefiting from the home ground advantage.

Duncan said the Cats had earned the right to play the home final at Simonds Stadium, and it would have been nice to do so, but a qualifying final win at the MCG would be good compensation.

Geelong finished higher than Richmond on the ladder but the AFL has scheduled the game at night on Friday week at the MCG and a huge crowd is anticipated.

The Cats go into the game having won just two of their past eight finals since their 2011 premiership, while the Tigers have not won a final since 2002 and have beaten Geelong just once in their past 21 encounters.

Duncan said such history was not raised internally to provide the Cats with any extra incentive to win, insisting that the reasons for the Cats recent finals record were not complicated.

"Sometimes you just run into better teams," Duncan said.

Duncan, who was a sub in the Cats 2011 premiership side, said the two teams were closely matched and he was expecting the Tigers' youth and excitement to provide the experienced Cats with a fierce battle.

"It's a toss of the coin," Duncan said. 

Duncan gives injured skipper Joel Selwood a good chance to be fit to play the game, having required surgery on an ankle injury suffered in round 20 against Sydney.

However, he said the ball was in the captain's court, and he had no doubt Selwood would not play if he did not feel as though he could contribute to the team.   

"Knowing Joel over the last eight years, I would have thought [he would play], but at the same time I know he will put his hand up if he is not right as well and can't perform," Duncan said.