Geelong will not rule out gun midfielder Max Holmes for the club's first final next week as they enjoy the weekend off ahead of the Wildcard Round.
Holmes is recovering from a right ankle fracture and syndesmosis injury he sustained in Round 19 against St Kilda, and was always in a race against the clock before the end of the season.
But words from the Cats camp have been "positive" that the speedster can still make an impact, including coach Chris Scott.
"The short answer is I don't know. But he's certainly optimistic and positive, and the medical staff haven't ruled him out of playing our next game," Scott said on AFL360.
"Early on, they were sort of thinking he was more likely, even in an optimistic-case scenario, he would not play until Week two or three of the finals, but that's certainly on the table from what I hear.
"I feel like I'm repeating myself on this stuff, but I tend, these days, to wait until late in the preparation to speculate on whether these guys are going to play.
"You want your players to be optimistic. And Max, from very early on in his recovery, he was saying I'm going to push, and I'm really confident I'll be right. You always support that positive thinking."
Fellow midfielder James Worpel is also pushing for selection as he works back from a hamstring injury.
The Cats have listed his return timeframe as 1-3 weeks, but has increased his running loads this week and will look to integrate into club training sessions.
Geelong will watch curiously this weekend as Melbourne, Carlton, Western Bulldogs and Collingwood do battle before their opposition for the elimination final is determined.
They will take on the lowest-ranked winner of the Wildcard Round, meaning they will not play Melbourne.
