Jackson Thurlow is confident that he will be cleared to play his first game in 12 months when the Cats take on Hawthorn in their JLT Community Series opener against Hawthorn in Launceston.

The 22-year-old, who grew up in Launceston, missed Geelong's 2016 home and away campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season match against Essendon in Shepparton.

But he has been in full training for a number of weeks how and has set his sights on running out in front of his friends and family on Friday, February 17.

“Everything is ticking along really nicely," Thurlow told reporter Jon Ralph in a recent feature in the Herald Sun.

"Everything is fine from my end so hopefully I can be selected for that game in Tassie.

“Every box is ticked from my end, so it’s just a matter of getting picked to play in my home town.

“The last time the Cats played at Launceston in 2007 I went and watched with my Pop, who has passed away now.

“Hopefully I can pull the jumper on in my first game in 12 months with mum and nan there, and dad too.

"My family and friends are excited so it would be good to get the game out of the way.”

Cats fans are set to see a bigger and stronger Thurlow in action against the Hawks.

“I guess I did spend a lot of time in the gym [while I was sidelined]," he said.

"Matty Scarlett has been good for me. He loves his weights, and it gave me a chance not to transform my body but get strong in the areas I couldn’t while I was playing.

“It’s probably lower-limb strength more than anything. When I was playing I wasn’t a strong enough player for half back with my hips and legs.

“Mum thinks my bum is bigger now but I am a lot stronger all around. I am a little heavier now — around 88kg from about 85kg back at the start of last year.”

Thurlow, who was a Rising Star nominee in 2015, has been enjoying working under new defensive coach Corey Enright and forming a partnership with star recruit Zach Tuohy.

“[Zach] ... provides us with so much run and his ball-use is elite,’’ Thurlow said.

“It is different to last year but our side is shaping up really well.

"Corey is driving the things he was elite at — our transition and the way we attack and defend behind the ball.

‘’Zach is the kind of player who can take the game on and Tom Stewart has come in as a fast half-back player and Tom Ruggles will do it again.

“It is going to be a while different look but the boys have worked really hard on what we want to do.”