Daniel Menzel says his overriding emotion will be excitement when he plays his long-awaited second finals match on Friday night at the MCG.

Menzel made his first appearance in the finals in 2011, when the Cats played Hawthorn in a qualifying final at the MCG.

That night he suffered the first of his four series knee injuries.

Now he's set to return to the big stage in another qualifying final against the Hawks.

"I guess the last two weeks I've just tried to take it in," Menzel said at a press conference prior to the main training session at Simonds Stadium on Wednesday.

"I'm just extremely excited to go on Friday night.

"Playing every week was a goal at the start of the season, and I'm really pleased with how the year's gone so far.

"But, I guess, it's the pointy end now and that's when you want to be playing."