The weekend's disappointing loss to the Blues will mean last week's selected 22 are sure to see a high level of scrutiny at the selection table.

Some strong match simulation performances against the Blues Reserves means there will be plenty of competition for spots.

Brandan Parfitt

The cornrows have disappeared since Parfitt’s dominant Round 2 performance against the Hawks but the Cats will hoping the young midfielder’s red hot form hasn’t.

GM of Football Simon Lloyd expects the hard-edged Cat to overcome hamstring soreness in time to face the Demons.

“He was able to complete a good body of cross training and then running on Sunday as well. We expect him to be available for Melbourne on Sunday,” Lloyd says.

Jordan Clark

An unlucky exclusion from the Cats Round 2 side to face the Hawks, Clark again missed out on selection on the weekend.

Chris Scott said in last week’s press conference that the young Cat shouldn’t see too much time out of the side.

"He’s well aware he’s right on the edge and he’s probably the example as much as any player that we just won’t leave in our VFL team for too long provided he’s doing everything he can to get himself ready, which he is," Scott said.

Clark was one of the first to be named by VFL Coach Shane O’Bree as one of the Cats to catch his eye from the weekend’s match simulation.

Darcy Fort

Rhys Stanley’s diagnosis with a medial ligament knee injury means Fort has to be right in the picture to take on Max Gawn and the Demons.

He didn’t do his selection chances any harm against the Blues Reserves, kicking three goals playing in the ruck against Tom De Koning, the brother of Geelong’s 2019 first round selection Sam.

James Parsons

Parsons kicked a number of classy goals in match simulation against the Blues, breaking through the middle of the ground with three running bounces and kicking truly.

O’Bree was glowing in his assessment.

“The open contest when it got to the outside, Parso that’s one of his strengths, when he does get the ball on the outside he can break the game open,” he said.

“He finished his work off kicking a few goals and setting a few up. That was really good signs from him.”

Jake Kolodjashnij

The reliable defender missed Round 1 after undergoing pre-season hip surgery and hasn’t worked his way back into the senior side due to a lack of available match practice.

The weekend’s successful match simulation with the Blues could be the launching pad he needs to return to the side, with VFL Coach Shane O’Bree declaring him ready to go should he need to be called upon.

Nakia Cockatoo

Coach Chris Scott has repeatedly stressed the importance of patience when it comes to the dynamic Cat, so don’t expect to see his return to the AFL side for some time yet.

The signs are looking positive however, with a strong match simulation outing against Carlton last week.

“He got three quarters of football. Probably the last minute of his three quarters was the Cocky we want to see where he just broke the game open and took a few bounces and kicked it deep inside our forward 50. That’s just what we want to see from Cocky,” O’Bree said.

“He’s pumped, he’s done a fair bit of work as we said and he got through unscathed and hopefully pulls up well and we’ll just keep progressing.”