GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 02: Daniel Menzel of the Cats celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 11 match between the Geelong Cats and the Adelaide Crows at Simonds Stadium on June 02, 2017 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Geelong coach Chris Scott has confirmed forward Daniel Menzel will return for the Cats' semi-final against Sydney at the MCG on Friday night.

Menzel was a shock omission from Geelong's qualifying final side, but Scott has since admitted he could have played.

"In retrospect -- and we've come up with a few things in retrospect -- yeah we could have played him," Scott told Fox Footy's AFL 360 on Monday night.

"But we had 38 entries, that's the other thing you have to consider if you're looking at it in totality. The full forward's not going to help with the entries.

"But I don't think that decision contributed to the lack of supply in our forward half."

Scott confirmed on Wednesday morning Menzel will return for the do-or-die clash with the white hot Swans, coming in as a replacement for Cameron Guthrie, who sustained a calf injury in the loss to the Tigers.

"Daniel Menzel will play. He'll come in for Guthrie. We've already decided on that," Scott said.

Meanwhile, talls Wylie Buzza and Ryhs Stanley are also in the mix to return to the senior side, while exciting youngster Nakia Cockatoo is in the frame to return next week should the Cats win through to the preliminary final.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Wylie Buzza of the Cats celebrates the win with fans during the round 23 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Simonds Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

"Buzza and Stanley are very much in the conversation," Scott added.

"It's whether we're too tall in conditions that are forecast to be slippery.

"Whenever we lose, you look back and think 'maybe we could've done this, that or the other'. Selection was one."

Geelong has lost its past three matches against Sydney.