AS LACHIE Henderson gets set to return to the Geelong side to take on some ferocious Swans, he is still getting over a close encounter with a shark.

The defender and his former Carlton teammate Jarrad Waite were surfing at Bells Beach last Friday when they were close to an incident.

A 2m shark became tangled with another surfer's leg rope and knocked him off his board.

The two players were only about 15m away.

It is understood that Henderson and Waite decided not to return to shore, reasoning that the shark was unlikely to return to the same spot.

While Bells Beach and other popular surf spots are not far from Geelong, Henderson is among only a few Cats players who use the sport as a recreation. 

Patrick Dangerfield is another notable Geelong surfer, but golf is far more popular among their players.

Geelong coach Chris Scott was keeping his cards close to his chest on Monday night when asked if Henderson would return from a knee injury for Friday night's preliminary final against the Sydney Swans at the MCG.

"We don't have an answer on our 22 right at the moment," Scott told Fox Footy.

"It's positive that we do have options so the week off has helped in that respect. 

"Lachie will be available … (Nakia) Cockatoo, (Jed) Bews, (Shane) Kersten (and Darcy) Lang will be available so we've still got a few things to work through."

Henderson, who has not played since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on August 23, trained strongly in the club's open training session on Saturday.

Four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews weighed in on the selection discussion on Sunday, questioning whether Henderson would be an automatic inclusion in the Cats' backline.

"I don't think he's any certainty to get a game. You have got (Tom) Lonergan, (Harry) Taylor, (Andrew) Mackie and the Swans don't have a lot of height in their forward line," Matthews told Channel Seven.

"Their mediums and smalls are the problem. I don't think he's any certainty."