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Geelong superstar Gary Ablett and ruckman Rhys Stanley are set to return for a much-anticipated AFL clash with Richmond at the MCG.
Geelong are set to be boosted by the return of key duo Gary Ablett and first-choice ruckman Rhys Stanley for Friday night's blockbuster AFL clash with Richmond at the MCG.
Ablett missed last week's win over Sydney as served a one-match ban for striking Gold Coast's Anthony Miles, while Stanley missed his second game in three weeks with an adductor injury.
The Cats have a bye following the much-anticipated encounter, but coach Chris Scott dismissed suggestions he could be tempted to rest Ablett against the Tigers.
That would give the superstar veteran three weeks without a game to freshen him up for the second half of the season but Scott said it just isn't necessary.
"If he did have issues that he was managing that (break) would be a likely scenario, but he's just not in that state," Scott told reporters on Tuesday.
"He's feeling really good.
"Some of the issues that have plagued him over previous seasons, not just with us but at Gold Coast, look to be in the past.
"So there's no reason not to play him."
Stanley missed the Cats' win over the Western Bulldogs in round nine with an adductor injury, returned to face Gold Coast in round 10 then missed the win over the Swans with what had been thought to be the same injury.
"We're really confident that it was just a week (out)," Scott said
"It's a slightly different issue, but very minor.
"It's something that we don't think will come up again once he recovers from this issue."
The availability of the pair adds to the anticipation ahead of the match of the round.
Geelong, two games clear on top of the ladder with a 10-1 record, will go in favourites, with sixth-placed Richmond looking to rebound from a shock loss to North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
"They've been the best team over the past three years in my view, so there's no risk of us underestimating them," Scott said.
"In a lot of ways what they did last week is probably not relevant when you compare it to what they'll probably do this week.
"We suspect they'll play a lot better and make it really hard for us."
