It is a simple equation for the Cats in their Round 18 clash against Sydney at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
Win and they secure a top four berth and a double finals chance, lose and they will finish outside the top four and play in an elimination final.
“It is an important game for us irrespective of ladder position,” Geelong Coach Chris Scott said.
“We would like to be playing well going into a finals series, but given the way things have fallen it is really clear for us that we need to not only play well but we need to win to finish top four.
“I always thought it was going to be an important game and it has proven to be so.”
Scott confirmed at Friday’s press conference that captain Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett were likely inclusions against the Swans.
“That’s our thinking at the moment that those guys will come back in.”
“We are still a couple of days out and as has been our process all year, we’ve waited until late as possible before we absolutely finalise our team, but I think we earmarked for Gary to come back in as soon as he was available and the plan was the hold Joel back as long as we possibly could and we have done that, so there is no reason to think that those two won’t play.
Gary Rohan is also firmly in the mix to return against his former side.
“Best guess is that Rohan will be available to play, (Rhys) Stanley won’t be, and Jack Steven will be available.”
Geelong has won their past three games against the Swans by an average winning margin of 20 points.
The Cats will go in as favourites to extend that winning streak; however, the Swans have built some strong recent form with two victories from their past three games.
“They have certainly improved as the year has gone on so I suspect that we will be playing them at close to their best for the year.”
"I think this is a good chance for us to acknowledge that the stakes are high, the results are really important one for us, lets confront it and do the best we can."
For and Against: Played 225 games | Won: 124 | Lost: 101
Last time they met: R19, 2019 – Geelong 16.11 (107) def Sydney 12.8 (80)
Broadcast & Match Details
Sunday 20 September from 3.35pm AEST.
Watch: Seven, Fox Footy, Kayo
Listen: K Rock Football
It's a big game for... Tom Hawkins
Tom Hawkins currently leads the Coleman Medal with 40 goals of the season, nine ahead of Port Adelaide's Charlie Dixon in second place. After West Coast big man Josh Kennedy was unable to close the gap on Thursday night, Hawkins is in a strong position to win the award for the first time.
