Chris Scott was keeping his cards close to his chest on Monday night when asked if Lachie Henderson would return from a knee injury for Friday night's preliminary final against the Sydney Swans at the MCG.

"We don't have an answer on our 22 right at the moment," the Cats coach told Fox Footy.

"It's positive that we do have options so the week off has helped in that respect. 

"Lachie will be available … (Nakia) Cockatoo, (Jed) Bews, (Shane) Kersten (and Darcy) Lang will be available so we've still got a few things to work through."

Henderson, who has not played since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on August 23, trained strongly in the club's open training session on Saturday.

Four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews weighed in on the selection discussion on Sunday, questioning whether Henderson would be an automatic inclusion in the Cats' backline.

"I don't think he's any certainty to get a game. You have got (Tom) Lonergan, (Harry) Taylor, (Andrew) Mackie and the Swans don't have a lot of height in their forward line," Matthews told Channel Seven.

"Their mediums and smalls are the problem. I don't think he's any certainty."