Geelong coach Chris Scott has dismissed any doubts that boom recruit Bailey Smith won't be raring to go against his former side on Thursday night at GMHBA Stadium.
Smith - who was seen briefly at training on Tuesday - will get the chance to play in front of a packed Kardinia Park, as the Western Bulldogs jump on the bus down the highway.
But Scott clarified why some Cats players aren't seen on the track for the entire session, whilst also acknowledging the five-day turnaround from Saturday's 76-point win over Port Adelaide.
"(It was) mentioned to me that there was some commentary around him not training. He trained, you just didn't see it. And we had a pretty individual kind of program on that day, so he's fine," Scott said on Wednesday before their captain's run.
"It's more a function that we just have an individual program, and the cameras see a portion of our training, and generally it's not the best bit โ sorry."
Much has been made of the Smith-Bulldogs reunion, which has been hyped up over the past few weeks due to public jabs at one another.
"How is he going with the attention? Fine. He doesn't have any problem with the attention at all," Scott continued.
"I think when players play against their former club, there is a bit of added spice to it. For some players who don't like that kind of attention, it can be a challenge but I think for others it is stimulating. Bailey is certainly in that latter category.
"I use this cricket analogy that in these sorts of situations, there are some players that you sledge because it might affect them.
"It's like, just be really careful, because some players, those sort of sledges can really steel them, and you can have a long, hard day.
"I'm not saying Bailey is that necessarily, but I'm pretty confident in the small amount of time I've spent with him, that the hype and the combativeness is something that energises him.
"I think he needs that, so it's up to them - they know him better than I do, to be frank."
Tom Stewart and Rhys Stanley are in line to replace injured duo Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) and Jack Bowes (hamstring), while Ted Clohesy will come into consideration.
Forgotten veterans Cam Guthrie and Jack Martin will line up for the club's VFL side this Friday against Footscray Bulldogs.
Guthrie has played 10 games since the 2022 premiership victory, and only one game in the reserves during that time after being plagued by a persistent Achilles issue.
Geelong is playing the cautious game with Martin, who was delisted by Carlton at the end of last year following a string of soft-tissue injuries.
The club will celebrate Mitch Duncan's 300th game, who will join Tom Hawkins (359), Joel Selwood (355), Corey Enright (332), Ian Nankervis (325), Jimmy Bartel (305) and John Newman (300) in reaching the milestone.
