Geelong GM of Football Andrew Mackie said captain Patrick Dangerfield and reigning Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron will be available next week.
The pair missed Friday's Opening Round clash against Gold Coast, with Dangerfield tending to a calf knock, and Cameron failing to overcome a quad problem.
"We had a main session to get through after Chris' press conference (Tuesday) so Jez was probably close, but a couple days short," Mackie said on Fox Footy.
"And same with Pat. It's early in the season. It's clearly Opening Round. We don't want to take the risk.
"They were very close, but great opportunity for our other guys."
Mackie provided more context around the skipper's injury, saying the club was optimistic he would have been available for the season opener.
"He's actually had a knock for a couple of weeks," Mackie added.
"But he was able to play a bit of the Carlton game. We were able to manage minutes off the Origin.
"We all thought he was probably going to get there coming off that nine day break.
"It just didn't heal as quickly as we thought."
Dangerfield and Cameron were put through their paces today in a bid to prepare them for Round 1.
"He'll be good to go next week. And Jez will too. They had a good session today in Geelong."
The Cats host Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium next week.
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