GEELONG is happy to keep everyone guessing on where Patrick Dangerfield starts in Friday night's preliminary final against Adelaide.

Cats skipper Joel Selwood said it was a decision best left to coach Chris Scott and the man at the centre of the discussion, Dangerfield.

The midfield star was a dominant force inside 50 in the first half against Sydney, kicking 4.3 to tilt the battle Geelong's way.

Selwood said he'd be happy with whatever decision the match committee made given that Dangerfield excelled wherever he played.  

"It's up to the coach I guess, and Paddy will have a fair say in it too, on where he thinks he starts," Selwood said.

"We obviously think he can stretch backlines because he is so dominant as a forward also, [but] I do like lining up next to him in the middle."

Dangerfield has kicked 43 goals this season and booted four goals or more in a game three times.

However, the Crows won the territory battle against Geelong in round 18, so the midfield battle will be crucial.

The Cats did not put a heavy tag on Crows' midfielder Rory Sloane in that game and he kick-started the Crows.

However, Selwood said it was likely Geelong would identify the Crows' most critical player this time and attempt to curb his influence.

Whether that was Sloane or one of the Crouch brothers was a question best left to the coach, Selwood said. 

Friday night's game will be Selwood's eighth preliminary final, but he has not played in a Grand Final since 2011.

He said he was not thinking too far ahead yet, with his main focus being on getting a good start against the Crows.

"[We] have to keep our eyes on the prize and that is the first quarter this weekend," Selwood said.

"The dream is in the back of the mind right now."