Absent for much of the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final against Hawthorn after being concussed, the All-Australian defender said he was no certain starter for the highly-anticipated rematch on March 27 as he battles to recover from post-season surgery.
"We'll see how it goes," Harley said when asked whether he would be fit to play in the season opener.
"There might be a little bit of doubt, we're not too sure. Obviously that's a goal of mine and we'll just sort of move towards that."
Speaking at the Cats' Telstra Community Camp at Torquay foreshore on Tuesday, Harley said he had resumed "pretty basic sort of running" but was still behind where he would like in terms of his rehabilitation.
"It ended up being probably a more extensive cleanout than we might have thought at the time, but that was just coming off a really heavy workload during the year and also a bit of history in my knee," he said.
"So it's not really too surprising it's taking this long, but in saying that it's a little bit frustrating.
"I'm obviously on a pretty modified program so far this summer.
"We haven't necessarily put a date or anything on it at this stage; we're just working our way through the pre-season up to this date.
"Obviously games are starting next week and I'm not in those plans immediately.
"It's still a little bit up in the air but [we're taking] a conservative approach; just to get through the whole season's the plan."
In better news for Geelong, Harley said the club's other off-season injury concerns – Tom Hawkins and David Wojcinski – were faring better.
The Cats skipper said the pair had both "graduated" from the rehab group and were both being introduced carefully into training – Hawkins from a foot injury and Wojcinski from an Achilles.
Harley said Hawkins was "in fantastic nick" and killed off speculation the burly forward's foot was far worse than first thought.
"I keep asking him … whether he feels anything in his leg and he hasn't felt anything for what seems like months," Harley said.
"He's with the main group now; whether he plays the intra-club games I'm not too sure."
"He's not injured, that's one thing I can definitely [say]."
