GEELONG forward Tom Hawkins can still play an important role for the Cats in the finals despite being hampered by an on-going back issue, says teammate Hamish McIntosh.

While Hawkins remains a day-to-day proposition according to coach Chris Scott, McIntosh doesn't believe Hawkins’ late withdrawal for Saturday's qualifying final against Fremantle will rule him out of the finals series.

Hawkins was replaced by Josh Walker 90 minutes before the start of the game.

He has played 20 games and kicked 46 goals this season but has been affected by a disc problem in his back that has restricted his movement.

McIntosh said the bullocking forward could still have an impact in the finals series this year.

"He can still play an important role and as you'd know in finals footy, the game feels a lot more contested and there's a lot more kicking down the line and that plays into Tom's hands," McIntosh told 3AW.

"Tom's main strengths are his competing and his contested marking and I still think he can do that at a high level.

"When you get the ball one-on-one to him he's dangerous, he's the strongest bloke at the club and he's an incredibly good target for us up forward.

"I'm sure he can play a really important role in that aspect."

Scott told Channel 7 before the game he believed Hawkins would be available for the Cats later in the finals series.

McIntosh, who hasn't played since round seven last year because of knee, Achilles and ankle issues, said Hawkins was "still having a pretty good year" despite his limitations.

"I think he's getting a lot of criticism, probably because of the high standards he set last year but when he's still kicking 50 goals in a season he's having a pretty good year," he said.

"He's just got to make sure he goes away now for the next week or two weeks, depending on if we win today, get his rehab right and make sure he's getting that body [right] and come in for the preliminary final or semi final next week and play his role in the side."

The Cats made one other late change with Taylor Hunt replaced by Cameron Guthrie.