While Jimmy Bartel seems assured of a senior return this week, veteran Geelong midfielder James Kelly will need to prove his fitness before he is given the opportunity to face inconsistent North Melbourne on Saturday night.
The Cats had the bye in round 13 and, as a result of the death of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh, also had last weekend off, with the clash against the Crows cancelled.
Bartel had been chosen to return against the Crows but instead used a VFL clash to put in a best-afield effort. Used as a sweeper across half-back, Bartel had 28 disposals, five marks, six tackles and eight hardball gets, more than reinforcing he had recovered from the knee injury that had sidelined him since round three against the Gold Coast Suns.
The Cats, still smarting after a shock loss to Melbourne, were also able to give valuable game time to ruckman Dawson Simpson and small defender Billie Smedts in the VFL.
Simpson and Smedts had also originally been selected in an extended squad to face the Crows.
Kelly's experience and run would be warmly welcomed by the Cats. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the win over Port Adelaide in round 11.
Cats football department chief Steve Hocking said on Monday that Kelly faced a fitness test this week.
Kelly said at the time of the injury that "if it's a good one [injury] it could be three or four [weeks], if it's a bad one it could be six or eight [weeks]", so a return this weekend would be ahead of what some had expected.
The Kangaroos will have a significant inclusion of their own at Etihad Stadium, with coach Brad Scott to again be in charge on game day - against his twin, Chris - and Darren Crocker returning to his assistant coaching duties.
Scott has not been able to lead his side since undergoing back surgery days after a stinging loss to Collingwood in round nine.
He had returned to the club last week but was unable to fly, so he missed a dispiriting loss to a Suns side dealing with the fall-out of the drugs scandal.
The Kangaroos lacked toughness and composure against the Suns and find themselves two games outside the top eight.
The players expected a "brutal" review on Monday, with vice-captain Jack Ziebell calling for change.
"The way we are going at the minute, we've got to change something. When you are six [wins] and seven [losses] after round 14, it is now or never, so that's the mindset we have. It's backs against the wall," he said.
