KEY FORWARD Jeremy Cameron will return from a hamstring injury in Geelong's clash with St Kilda on Saturday, while fellow star Patrick Dangerfield has also been cleared to play.
Cameron has been sidelined for six weeks, with Cats taking a conservative approach to the spearhead's rehabilitation from the latest in a series of hamstring setbacks.
But he is a confirmed starter against the Saints at Marvel Stadium in a boost for third-placed Geelong as they gear up for another premiership tilt.
"We'll put him out there with the expectation that he's ready for the rigours of a full AFL game," Cats coach Chris Scott said.
"That doesn't mean that we won't be agile with our decision-making in the moment within the game, and most players these days, even key forwards, get a spell at some stage.
"We've got a plan there for him, but it's not one that's so conservative that we would put him in doubt if we left him out there a little bit longer."
Champion midfielder Dangerfield was in some doubt for the St Kilda contest when he was taken to hospital with a throat injury after an elbow from Toby Greene during Friday night's loss to GWS.
Scans showed bruising of his larynx but no fracture to the area and Dangerfield was released from hospital on Saturday.
"We were really concerned with it at the time and whenever someone spends a night in hospital there's reason for concern, but he's recovered really well," Scott said.
"After extensive assessments and tests, he's been cleared to play and was cleared early in the week, so that's good news."
Isaac Smith will play this week after being managed while Scott said Lachie Henderson and Mark O'Connor are likely to return from injury against St Kilda, but there is doubt over Tom Atkins whose back complaint has lingered longer than expected.
Gryan Miers and Mitch Duncan are still chances to return during the finals series.
Small forward Miers, who has been sidelined since round 19 with a leg injury, signed a two-year contract extension with the Cats this week.