STAR Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron will consider leaving Friday night's blockbuster against Collingwood at half-time if he receives word that his partner is in labour.

Cameron's partner Indiana Putra is due to give birth to the couple's first child between rounds one and two.

If the birth ends up clashing with Friday's match, then Cameron won't play.

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At this stage, the odds of Cameron playing appear good, given the due date is after the match.

But the 29-year-old will face an interesting decision if he lines up and then receives news his partner has gone into labour.

"I have been pretty clear with the club and we have spoken about it a fair bit that if the (labour) happens (before the match) then I won't be able to play," Cameron told reporters on Tuesday.

"But I am happy to go to the game (if that's not the case).

"Right now it is completely normal and it's just a waiting game. That is the hard thing about it – you never know when it will come.

"If the call comes at half-time, then that will be a decision that has to be made then."

If Cameron misses, then the Cats might end up being without their two powerhouse premiership forwards given the continued doubts surrounding Tom Hawkins.

The 34-year-old has been sidelined during the pre-season after undergoing foot surgery and is no guarantee to face the Magpies.

"Tom is training really well and hopefully we are both out there," Cameron said.

"But if we're not, I'm sure they (the coaches) have looked at it a few times throughout the week.

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"We have a lot of guys that can play different roles, and I think we're really lucky with that.

"We have some backmen that can go forward, we have new guys coming in and we have guys that play different roles coming in.

"Hopefully it doesn't play out that way, but if it does, it will be a bit of a different looking forward line."

If either Hawkins or Cameron misses, it could pave the way for former Magpie Ollie Henry to play a key role up forward.

Henry booted 21 goals for Collingwood last season, and the 20-year-old will be aiming to make a bright start to his new life at the Cats.

"What's really stood out to me is his aerial work," Cameron said.

"He's like a medium-type player, but he plays really tall. He loves leaping at the ball, and he has no fear in the air, which is different."