GEELONG midfielder Travis Varcoe is set to play his first AFL game since round three when the Cats host Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Varcoe was sidelined for three months after suffering a shoulder injury against Carlton, but he returned via the VFL last weekend and emerged from the hit-out unscathed.
"There was some internal dialogue about Travis Varcoe coming straight into the AFL team, the way Cyril Rioli (came straight back for Hawthorn)," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"He'd done a lot of work. He had a 12-week rehab and was running after two, so he's in pretty good shape."
Defender Jared Rivers also returned in the VFL last weekend after a long stint on the sidelines with a knee injury.
He and Varcoe cannot play at that level again this weekend, because the Cats' VFL side has a bye.
However, Scott has hinted that both are likely to be selected to play Melbourne.
"I think we're pretty confident that they'll be available to play (in the AFL)," Scott explained.
"We won't roll the dice. If they play, they're ready to play. There won't be any risks taken, that's for sure.
"There's a chance that we might take the ultra-conservative position and leave them out and train them a little bit harder.
"But given they both played pretty decent minutes at VFL-level we're comfortable that they're OK to go."
Geelong will be further bolstered for its clash with the Demons by the return of mercurial midfielder Steve Johnson, who has served his two-match suspension.
Youngsters George Horlin-Smith and Billie Smedts are also pushing hard for spots in the team after outstanding performances against North Ballarat in the VFL.
One of them will probably replace veteran onballer Joel Corey, who is set to have the weekend off after being knocked out during the win over Hawthorn on Saturday night.
The Cats would also like to push highly-rated big man Nathan Vardy back into their AFL side, but he will be sidelined for a week after being badly concussed in the VFL on Saturday.
Key forward Tom Hawkins has struggled to overcome a back injury in recent weeks, sparking talk that he might be left out of the team to play Melbourne, although Scott has suggested otherwise.
"His back is being managed every week," Scott explained. "It's not something that he treats and fixes and then moves on and doesn't have to think about it again.
"But it's manageable. He's got a back issue that's limiting him in the same way that other players have slight niggles that limit them as well.
"But it's far from a position where we think his position in the team is compromised.
"The advice that we're getting from our doctors and medical staff and conditioning staff is that (being rested for a weekend) wouldn't help that much.
"I think you all understand our position when it comes to compromised players. If there's any risk at all, we won't play them.
"That’s not the situation with Tom. His performance has been hindered a little bit but, in reality, that's not too different to virtually every player in the AFL system."
Adam McNicol covers Geelong news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_AdamMcNicol
