It is a slightly bizarre situation that Geelong finds itself in currently.

After finishing the home and away season in second spot on the ladder, the Cats enjoyed a week off in the pre-finals bye, triumphing in their Qualifying Final before having another bye week to prepare for the Preliminary Final. 

The result will mean that Geelong plays just one game in 26 days, heading into the penultimate week of the season. 

It will be important to harness the momentum and energy that was captured against the Lions last Friday night, a fact not lost on Shannon Neale following his intense battle with Harris Andrews in the Qualifying Final. 

Heading into the second Preliminary Final of his AFL career, Neale said his focus has been maintaining a strict routine and continuing to stick to his schedule to stay in the moment. 

"My preparation going into a week off, I have kept it all the same," Neale said. 

"I go to the same restaurant every night before a game in Victoria, so I went there even though I wasn't playing for two weeks.

"I went there both Friday nights because for me, physically you have got to keep ticking but mentally for me as well, making sure I am ticking those boxes that I would pre-game. Just making sure I don't switch off."

Standing at 203cm tall, it is no secret that Neale is a mountain of a man, but the insight into his pre-game meal stunned media in the room for his press conference. 

"There was plenty of noise about what I ate," Neale admitted. 

"I have two pastas and a pizza to myself. Carb load and about five litres of water or hydralyte.

"I go the same pizza, you can actually pick up on Uber Eats so I usually go massage and then pick it up. But I realised that I couldn't figure out what the special was that night on the app, so I had to call up and start figuring it out.

"I usually go the same, but I sometimes change it up."

Neale engaged in a fascinating battle with Harris Andrews during the Cats Qualifying Final, finding space and converting a big goal at the start of the final quarter. 

While both players produced some great moments throughout the night to help their team, Neale said it was a challenge that he enjoys taking on every time he lines up against Andrews. 

"I just wanted to play my role for the team," Neale said. 

"He [Harris Andrews] is an outstanding defender, really good at intercepting the footy when it comes down his way. I wanted to play my own game, without focusing too much on him per se. But at the same time, I had to try and mitigate his impact on the contest.

"I felt like I had patches where I did that well, but at the same time, I probably had patches where I could have done it a bit better.

"I just enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to play on such a great defender in Harris."