OUT-OF-FORM Geelong forward Tom Hawkins may play more effectively in partnership with regular defender Harry Taylor, but that's not necessarily the route the Cats will take, coach Chris Scott says.

Meanwhile, Scott hinted at an injury concern plaguing struggling star Steven Motlop.

After booting 16 goals in the first four weeks of the season, Hawkins has snagged just 11 in his past eight matches.

That includes a bag of four against the bottom-of-the-ladder Brisbane Lions.

"If you look at the numbers across the season, one could mount an argument to say that Tom's played better when Harry's been there, so there's some logic to that," Scott said at Simonds Stadium on Thursday.

"But we're pretty confident that Tom can play pretty well as even the only key forward.

"We've got other options as well, but it won't be the No.1 priority."

Motlop will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season but has three times over the past month picked up 16 or fewer disposals.

"He's not playing as well as we think he can, and as well as we think he will towards the end of the year. We've got to think about how we manage him. There are a few players on our list who are in that category," Scott said.

"It’s not just about form with Mots, it's generally more complicated than that.

"We'll put together a plan that we're confident will have him at least in full health towards the end of the season, and if he is that, then we're confident that he can more than just contribute."

The coach said he wasn't as concerned about Hawkins' form as others were.

"I think it's a little overblown to be honest. (For) key forwards, it's very, very hard to be perfectly consistent across the whole course of the season. I heard someone I respect say he might not be going at his best, but I'm pretty sure we'd be better having him in the team than out of the team," Scott said.

"We're really optimistic that he's going to play a big part in the rest of our season."

Defender Jackson Thurlow was expected to be selected for Saturday night's clash against Carlton at Etihad Stadium, with Andrew Mackie also a likely in after taking two weeks off to deal with a wrist complaint.

Nakia Cockatoo and Brandan Parfitt have both overcome hamstring issues and are available for selection.

Scott reiterated his concerns about the potential of a late change to see Geelong losing its home game against Richmond in round 21, suggesting it would "at the very least, flying in the face of what constitutes good integrity processes".

Taylor's gift of a slice of ham to Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins after last Friday's game, a reference to the food that gave the Crow food poisoning, didn't concern Scott.

"it's certainly not part of my remit to dictate how individuals conduct themselves in terms of their personality. We encourage guys to be themselves. Would I have done it? Probably not, but again, it's not the coach's position to dictate these things," Scott said.

"It may have been 20 years ago. We just have a different philosophy on these things these days."