GEELONG coach Mark Thompson says he will not risk flirting with form by resting players in the run to September.

Despite sitting two-and-a-half games clear on top of the table, the Cats will welcome back vice captain Cameron Ling for Saturday night’s side clash against Richmond.

Ling underwent facial surgery three weeks ago after a sickening elbow from Fremantle’s Dean Solomon.

“We could probably not take the risk but to try and tell Lingy that is a pretty hard thing. He’s ready to go and he wants to play,” Thompson said.

Darren Milburn will return after overcoming a virus while Gary Ablett (ankle) and David Wojcinski (achilles) are rated only 50-50 chances to tackle the Tigers.

“To be honest Wojo could probably be playing now. If it was a final he would be playing,” he said.

Having dispensed with premiership challengers Hawthorn and the Bulldogs in successive weeks, Thompson said the side’s record – 35 wins from its last 37 matches – dictated it would have little trouble getting up for the Tigers.

He also doubted the side would feel any added pressure having beaten the two sides viewed as its greatest challengers.

“I think more people have been saying (after last week) that Hawthorn is a better chance to win rather than Geelong is a certainty,” he said.

“We won by 11 points with four players out, so I’m not sure whether that’s right or wrong.”

Having won eight straight games since its only loss of the year in round nine, Thompson doubted the side could improve in any significant fashion.

“Maintaining our form would be great. If we get better, because we haven’t played the perfect game yet, that would be fantastic too,” he said.

“We can’t ask for too much and I think we as a club are pretty happy with what the boys are doing.”

He said the fact the side could conceivably be forced to win 16 straight games to win the premiership – if it does not lose another home and away game – was not a concern.

“Every week we just do the same thing. Everyone has a role to play. The doctors get around and see who’s injured, the fitness guys work out how much load people have done, the coaches are in the reviewing process and looking at our next opposition. Nothing really changes from week to week, so I don’t really see why we can’t keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

He said young full forward Tom Hawkins was still in the mix despite missing the past two weeks with foot soreness.

Hawkins is expected to miss at least two more matches before resuming in the VFL.

“It might be a really good thing for him to get his mental energy back,” he said.

“When you’re confident and really looking forward to playing, that can sometimes make a difference.”