Rhys Stanley is looking forward to getting back to his country footy roots when he runs out for the Cats against Essendon at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve on Saturday.

The big man grew up in the South Australian town of Berri and played on plenty of country grounds as a kid.

"It's what I grew up with - the horns around the oval and that sort of stuff," Stanley said during a visit to GV Health as part of Geelong's Australia Post Community Camp on Friday.

"It's good fun. [Shepparton] is my kind of town, so I'm loving it."

Stanley gathered 10 disposals, won eight hit-outs and kicked a goal in last week's NAB Challenge game against Collingwood at Simonds Stadium.

The Cats lost that contest by eight points, but Stanley believes he and his many new teammates will be much better for the run.

"The more time we get together the better, obviously," he said.

"I think the work that some of the boys have been able to do through the off-season has put them in really good stead for the year ahead.

"But the next couple of weeks will be really crucial for us."

Stanley has been impressed by the early form shown by fellow big man Zac Smith, who joined the Cats from Gold Coast late last year.

"Zaccy's pretty good in the middle, so some of the work he's been doing is great," Stanley said.

"The combo, if we can make it work, I think it'll be great."

The temperature is expected to top 37 degrees in Shepparton on Saturday, so the game will be a taxing affair for both sides.

"Rotations will be pretty high and we'll get the boys through," Stanley said.

Cats coach Chris Scott is expecting the AFL's heat rule to come into play.

"In a practical sense, the AFL will shorten [the game] a little bit," Scott said during a visit to the Powercor depot in Shepparton on Friday.

"They can't really give us more players. We've already got eight on the bench.

"So that's a logistical challenge as it is."