GEELONG is confident that highly-rated youngsters Jackson Thurlow and Shane Kersten will be fit to play some part in the NAB Challenge, although both are currently on modified training programs.
Thurlow had off-season hip surgery, while Kersten had a clean-up on his knee.
"Thurlow is doing a little bit of work," assistant coach Blake Caracella said.
"And Kersten is doing part of the training. He's not doing all of it, but he's back kicking the ball and moving around and so forth."
The Cats finished their pre-season camp at Coffs Harbour with one last session on Friday morning.
Caracella is adamant that the trip to northern New South Wales has the players in good shape, both mentally and physically, as they head off for their Christmas break.
"It's really getting away from Geelong," he said.
"It's a long pre-season, and getting away from Geelong and going to a new environment helps the boys get up and about for training.
"It's a bit about team bonding, too. The new draftees are there, and they get to meet all the other players in an environment that's friendly for bonding, really.
"The older guys went up a couple of days later. They missed one session or two, but they did most of the training.
"We had a Christmas party the other night, and other than that it was full-on training."
One of the stars of the camp was ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who has returned to full fitness after missing the 2013 season due to Achilles and ankle problems.
McIntosh and fellow big man Dawson Simpson, who missed the last part of the season after suffering a serious knee injury, both impressed their coaches with their competitive work.
"Hamish has trained the house down," Caracella said. "He's looking really fit. Big Dawson is moving around well. There's not too many that aren't."
Another pleasing development for Geelong has been the recovery of luckless half-forward Daniel Menzel, who underwent his fourth knee reconstruction almost five months ago.
"Menzel is running around and kicking the ball," Caracella said. "He's looking great."
Menzel hopes to start joining in with the Cats' main training sessions in February.
