Geelong is considering recalling ruckman Rhys Stanley to combat Hawthorn enforcer Lloyd Meek for Friday's preliminary final at the MCG.
Stanley missed the qualifying final victory over Brisbane with a hamstring injury but has been doing everything possible to make himself available for the crunch clash.
In his absence, Mark Blicavs and Sam De Koning took on Darcy Fort, while Shannon Neale was used sparingly to assist the ruck loads.
Cats coach Chris Scott admitted he was "impressed" with the 34-year-old's progress, and has forced the conversation about change at the selection table.
"With as much transparency as I can possibly give, I reckon we'll make that decision in the next hour or two, we've got a coaches meeting and we will work through it," Scott said.
"It's become real in the last few days because he's just been so good, so I'm doing everything I can not to think too far forward, but read into that what you will.
"It hasn't surprised me, but we've been so impressed with the progress that he's made.
"I think the short-term answer is that we could play him tomorrow night, now going after whether he should."
Premiership defender Jed Bews could also make a shock return to the senior side, despite playing 24 senior games since the 2022 triumph.
Bews has historically been tasked with manning the opposition's best small forwards, and Hawthorn has a stack of them: Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan, Connor Macdonald and Dylan Moore.
Against the Lions, the Cats fielded Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie, Tom Stewart, Connor O'Sullivan, Lawson Humphries and Mark O'Connor in their back six, with Blicavs, Jack Bowes and Jack Martin floating through defensively.
But the prospect of the Hawks' small forward fleet has given Scott something to consider.
"Jed will be in the squad," Scott said.
"A similar question last game with Charlie Cameron, absolutely at the forefront of our thinking.
"Those sorts of guys, Moore is an All-Australian, there is an argument to say he is more advanced in his career than (Watson and Ginnivan)."
The final teams will be released 6:20 pm (AEST) on Thursday.
