Geelong will welcome Steve Johnson back for the first time in 2013 when the Cats face Carlton on Saturday night.

Johnson missed the opening two rounds through suspension and knee surgery, but the mercurial midfielder has been named to play his 197th game. Jordan Murdoch also returns after missing round two with a hand injury

Johnson comes in at the expense of Mitch Brown who has been named in the VFL. James Kelly will miss with a calf injury.

Key defender Tom Lonergan will play his 100th game, and incredible achievement given he almost lost his life in 2006. Lonergan lost a kidney after suffering an injury in just his seventh senior game but has rebounded to win a premiership medal in 2011 and All Australian nomination last year.

The Cats will tackle a determined Carlton line up. The Blues have narrowly gone down in both games under new coach Mick Malthouse and will be desperate to record their first win of the campaign.

B: Taylor Hunt – Tom Lonergan – Corey Enright
HB: Joel Corey – Andrew Mackie – Harry Taylor
C: Mitch Duncan – Jimmy Bartel – Paul Chapman
HF: Mathew Stokes – James Podsiadly – Steven Motlop
F: Trent West – Tom Hawkins – Travis Varcoe
Foll: Mark Blicavs – Joel Selwood – Steve Johnson
Int: Allen Christensen, Billie Smedts, Josh Caddy, Jordan Murdoch
Emerg: George Horlin-Smith, Jesse Stringer, Jackson Thurlow