Geelong is still hopeful defender Andrew Mackie will be available for the Easter Monday blockbuster clash with Hawthorn.
Cats’ physio Mike Snelling said Mackie’s hamstring injury was “very minor”, confirmed by a scan.
“There’s not a lot in it. We’ll take it easy for the first few days and get him out on the track at the end of the week.
“He’s a bit sore and we will be conservative with it, but we hope he will be right for this weekend.”
On the other hand Hawthorn has lost two players from the team that thrashed the Gold Coast Suns in midfielder Liam Shiels and defender Matt Spangher.
But the Hawks could regain some tall timber with ruckman Ben McEvoy and defenders Brian Lake, Ben Stratton and Ryan Schoenmakers fit for the clash between the two remaining unbeaten sides.
Hawthorn football operations manager Chris Fagan said McEvoy had missed the past two weeks with a calf complaint but trained strongly on Tuesday.
Lake could return for his first game since last year’s premiership after serving his three-game suspension and overcoming a calf injury that hindered his pre-season.
Stratton has also been declared ready after two solid hit outs in the VFL, while Schoenmakers could play his first game in a year after a serious knee injury.
