JOEL Selwood will use this month's bye weekend to make a bold push for inclusion in Geelong's finals team, less than four weeks after ankle surgery. 

The Cats captain had a rare operation to repair a syndesmosis injury to his left ankle on Monday, August 7, after he hurt himself against Sydney three days earlier.

This week, Selwood has progressed from balance work to strength drills, and is managing swelling around the joint as the sizeable wound from surgery heals. 

Brother Scott Selwood said on Wednesday the Saturday of the bye round – exactly 26 days post-surgery – was slated as when the skipper would undertake match simulation in a bid to play finals. 

"He's alright, he's feeling pretty good about it all and he's pretty confident," Scott Selwood told SEN. 

"We've got the bye week before the finals and we're going to have a little run around, a match simulation on the Saturday off, and do quite a bit then. 

"He's planning, from my understanding, to join in all of that."

Western Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore famously returned from the same injury and procedure 41 days later to play in the Dogs' elimination final win over West Coast last year.

Selwood will be facing a shorter timeframe if he's to be a part of the Cats' first final. 

Cats physio Mark Young told the club's website this week Selwood was "doing all the right things" and there were "promising signs, but it is very early" in his recovery.

Meanwhile, ruckman Rhys Stanley remains an outside chance to face Collingwood on Saturday at the MCG despite sitting out much of the last quarter against Richmond with a tight calf.

"Scans showed a partial tear to the plantaris - they are an unusual injury, they can improve quickly so we're open ended on our timeframes and we'll give him a chance, even this week, to get up," Young said. 

Utility Mark Blicavs has ramped up his straight-line running after fracturing his fibula last month. 

The next step for the 26-year-old, who hasn't played since round 18, is changing direction and jumping, which he will attempt this week. 

He faces another 2-3 weeks out, along with livewire youngster Nakia Cockatoo, who is rehabilitating his third hamstring injury this season.

Young said Cockatoo was on a lighter running program, but had a "bit of work to do' in the gym before taking the next step.

George Horlin-Smith has been battling Achilles soreness but is back running, and will look at building up his volume over the next few weeks. 

The Cats have midfielder Mitch Duncan available to return from suspension, but forward Tom Hawkins must miss one more week with suspension.