THEY'RE not much for carping down at Geelong, so if the club's unbeaten start to the season is snapped by the Sydney Swans in Friday night's blockbuster, there will be no mention of a brutal opening start to the season.

The SCG clash will be Geelong's fourth game in 19 days. After starting the season on Easter Monday, the Cats played North on a Sunday, Carlton on a Saturday and now the Swans.

But it means nothing to Cats coach Chris Scott.

"I think the six-day break thing is over-rated," he said after Saturday night's 16-point win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

"We'll be fine this week and if we play poorly against Sydney we won't be blaming the six-day break."

The Cats have been preparing for their demanding opening to the season since the draw was released last October and after building the miles in their players' legs over the summer, have placed great emphasis in recovery and rehabilitation between games this year.

But the Cats have also quietly rotated their side. They made three changes for the game against the Kangaroos and another two ahead of the clash with the Blues.

And there will be at least one change for Friday night, with forward Travis Varcoe dislocating his shoulder and facing up to three months on the sidelines

Cameron Guthrie, George Horlin-Smith and Jordan Schroder all impressed in the VFL and are in line to come into the side.

The VFL side played on Sunday – just five days before the Swans clash – and the Cats were keen to modify the playing time of all those in contention to travel Sydney on Friday night.