Geelong star Steve Johnson is on the verge of returning from injury. Source: Getty Images
STEVE Johnson believes he's right to play his first game of the season against Carlton on Saturday night, but coach Chris Scott says the final decision will be left to the club's medical staff.
The Cats are set to see a group of players return to the field over the next fortnight, with Johnson still in the frame for the Blues clash at Etihad Stadium.
The forward had knee surgery on March 26, but could line up this weekend if he convinces medical staff that he's ready.
Daniel Menzel and Cameron Guthrie will play in the VFL this week, while Josh Hunt and Nathan Vardy are expected to return through the reserves team next week.
The news is not as good for defender Jared Rivers, who could miss another three games with a posterior cruciate ligament strain.
Geelong coach Chris Scott yesterday said a decision on Johnson would be made later in the week.
"He's some sort of chance. He'll be disappointed that I've rated him some sort of chance, he's very confident that he'll play, our medical staff think he's a chance but there's just more work that needs to be done before we can make a definitive judgement," Scott said.
"Steve has a bit of input but the medical staff has more, they're the ones that need to make that judgement.
"Only he knows how he feels so that's where he comes into the decision-making process and I'm clearly third in line when it comes to making that decision.
"In terms of his preparation to play AFL football through the pre-season, he's got a lot of work behind him and we're confident that if he's available and he comes into the team, that he'll be able to perform to a high level based on that preparation."
Scott said there would be no rush on Rivers, who missed Sunday's comeback win over North Melbourne after injuring his knee in the season opener against Hawthorn.
"He had a little bit of a strain to his PCL. The prognosis was somewhere between two and four weeks, so we're banking on three but if it is four it wouldn't surprise us," he said.
"He won't play until he's absolutely ready to play his best footy."
It had been anticipated that Hunt may return to the VFL this week after battling glandular fever and a related shoulder injury, but Scott said he was no certainty to play this week.
Scott said of a Vardy return this week: "It's unlikely but it's not impossible, I'm expecting that he will play the week after."
Guthrie will definitely play in the VFL after overcoming a calf injury sustained in the warm-up to Geelong's last practice match of the pre-season against Collingwood.
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