GEELONG midfielder Cam Guthrie is confident "tough dude" Patrick Dangerfield will be able to overcome injury and any niggling taggers to play a key role in the Cats' flag push.
Dangerfield has been nursing a fractured finger during the finals series but he is determined to play on through the pain.
He was also forced to deal with a rough and niggly tagger during Friday night's 35-point semi-final win over GWS.
Dangerfield copped plenty of physical heat from Giants veteran Matt de Boer during the game, but fought on to finish with 21 disposals and eight clearances.
"We're conscious of it," Guthrie said of the rough treatment Dangerfield was receiving.
"Pat's a really professional player and he's seen all that before.
"We'll give him a few blocks here or there. But in the end, we kind of expect him to work his opponent over and beat him in the contest.
"He had a few really good moments and we're looking forward to seeing what he delivers against Melbourne."
Guthrie is confident Dangerfield's finger injury won't be too much of a hindrance.
"He's a tough dude, so I think he's alright with it and he'll soldier on. He'll be OK," Guthrie said.
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Mark O'Connor spoke to the media after his return from Ireland where he helped his hometown team Dingle secure their maiden All-Ireland Final win! Proudly Presented by Ford Australia.
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Tom Atkins Press Conference | Pre-Season
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Preseason
The Cats weren't at their clinical best against GWS, and they'll need to take it up a notch when they face Melbourne in Friday night's preliminary final in Perth.
The teams faced off just three weeks ago with the Demons coming from 44 points down to secure a four-point triumph courtesy of Max Gawn's after-the-siren winner.
Geelong will be aiming to turn the tables in the re-match, and they have a major weapon in the form of Tom Hawkins.
The 'Tomahawk' was best afield against the Giants, booting five goals to go with his four contested marks.
"I'm getting used to it, it's unbelievable," Guthrie said of the 301-game veteran's star display.
"He's such a good option for us going forward. So reliable.
"To have Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan up there with him, and Brad Close lying around, I think we're a really dangerous forward line.
"It's up to us to give them a lot of good looks.
"What makes them so great is they can take some half chances too, and put some scoreboard pressure on."
Geelong will enter the preliminary final without midfielder Brandan Parfitt, who injured his hamstring against the Giants.
