Ling went into last Saturday’s game against Adelaide under an injury cloud with an ankle complaint and pulled up sore after the Cats’ 48-point win.
Geelong coach Mark Thompson said Ling would be out of action for at least two matches. However, the Cats' official injury list released on Tuesday forecast that the All Australian would miss three to four weeks.
“He just got a bit sore during the game last week and had the scans on Monday and realised there is a bit of a tear in it,” Thompson said.
“It’s a bit of a blow but with the new technology with scans we have identified he does have a tear and he’s going to miss a couple (of games).”
The injury is not related to the ankle injury Ling sustained during the first quarter of the Easter Thursday win over Collingwood.
The Geelong injury list also revealed that Ottens was still three to four weeks away from resuming from the knee injury he copped against Richmond in round two.
The injury was originally diagnosed as a two to four week medial ligament strain but Geelong football manager Neil Balme said the highly-skilled big man was taking longer than expected to recover.
“He’s probably a little bit slow … so he’ll be another few weeks, I think,” Balme said. “We’re not sure yet.”
Thompson said the club was taking a safety first approach with one of its most valuable assets.
“We’re not going to rush him at all,” Thompson said of Ottens.
“They thought it was a grade-one medial, and it was, and he’s a little bit sore. He hasn’t got rid of that soreness yet. Being a big guy, and its early in the year, it would be foolish to rush him back.”
Premiership defender Darren Milburn – a late withdrawal against the Crows with tightness in his back – should return to boost the Cats against the Brisbane Lions this weekend.
He will be needed against the Lions who boast the formidable duo of Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw up front.
The Cats are already without Matthew Egan, Tom Harley and Josh Hunt from their best defensive unit with Egan and Hunt ruled out for the season.
Harley is getting closer and has set himself to play against Melbourne in Heritage round match against Melbourne on May 3.
The 30-year-old missed the entire pre-season after undergoing off-season knee surgery.
“He’s on track. We’ve said all along we’ll be a little bit conservative with him,” Balme said.
“We want him to be able to get some continuity with him when he plays, so we’ll be making sure he’s right to go, so he doesn’t come in and then get a bit sore and go out.
“We’ll try to make sure that he’s okay, so it’ll be at least another couple of weeks, I think.”
Joel Corey is deputy vice-captain and next in line to lead the team.
