Considering Clark has "come from a long way back" he has impressed the Cats this pre-season, and coach Chris Scott is optimistic the big man will be ready to line up alongside Tom Hawkins against the Hawks on April 6.
"All the indications are that round one is a pretty good target for Mitch," Scott said after training on Friday.
"Mitch [has] been a really good addition to our program. What he brings in terms of his knowledge of the game and his experience – he's added another dimension."
Scott is excited at the prospect of having Clark and Hawkins working in tandem as the Cats look to address their over-reliance on their big key forward.
"It's exciting for Tom, as much as anyone. The opposition are certainly going to have to think about Mitch if he's playing anywhere near his capacity," Scott said.
"It helps the rest of our team with its balance. Mitch is, at least in my view, as capable in the ruck as he is as a key forward.
"We did bring Mitch in with a view of him playing more forward than ruck but we've still got an open mind as to how that plays out."
Hawkins was far and away Geelong's most targeted forward in 2014, taking 97 marks inside forward 50 (an AFL high).
The additions of Clark and Rhys Stanley (from St Kilda) is sure to help, considering Jimmy Bartel (31 marks inside 50) and Joel Selwood (21) were the other key targets for Geelong last year.
Fitting all of Clark, Stanley, Hawkins and even highly rated young forward Shane Kersten will prove to be challenging, according to Scott.
Menzel, who has had four knee reconstructions, was running strongly at training at Simonds Stadium on Friday while Vardy – who ruptured his ACL in February last year – continued his rehab indoors.
Scott also provided an update on emerging youngsters Jackson Thurlow (kidney) and Lincoln McCarthy (foot).