Geelong has suffered an injury blow ahead of its Wizard Home Loans Cup rematch against St Kilda at Telstra Dome, with Gary Ablett Jr ruled out by a groin strain.

The midfielder/forward, who missed the first two rounds of the pre-season competition with the complaint, has been replaced in the selected 22 by ruckman Henry Playfair.

St Kilda goes into the much-anticipated clash as selected, with Lenny Hayes to lead the club into the battle for the first time in the home-and-away season.