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Geelong skipper Joel Selwood has missed just one match with a hamstring injury, but he could return in Saturday night's blockbuster against West Coast.

Geelong coach Chris Scott is optimistic Joel Selwood will be fit to return for Saturday night's blockbuster clash with West Coast.

Selwood missed Monday night's 32-point win over Fremantle with a hamstring injury, while fellow midfielder Jack Steven was rested.

Steven will be carefully managed during the Cats' hectic schedule of four games in 14 days, perhaps playing just every second game.

Scott hopes Selwood will be passed fit to take on the Eagles despite missing just one game - albeit a game that came off an 11-day break.

"I'm optimistic actually," Scott said.

"And I know from the outside - and I would think this way as well if I didn't see him train and speak to him every day - that (people would say) why wouldn't you give him the extra week?

"But I think we're thinking this might be the extra week. He was pretty close this week.

"But again, we play on Saturday and then the following Wednesday, so we'd need to be really sure. But it's on the table."

Steven, who was taken to hospital during the pre-season after being stabbed, has played four games for the Cats in 2020 but is still on a carefully managed program.

The 30-year-old played in a scratch match against Fremantle on Sunday, and Scott said it was important to map out a special plan to ensure the former Saint doesn't break down.

"We're taking the long view with Jack," Scott said.

"He's got a training program that we think will have him right to play through this little period with short breaks, but we don't intend to play him every week.

"He's going to play a lot of footy for us, but we don't want to push the envelope too hard with him and make a mistake that still has him less than peak fitness at the end of the season."

Fremantle were left counting the cost of the 6.12 (48) to 2.4 (16) defeat to Geelong, with Darcy Tucker injuring his hamstring and Michael Walters limping off late.

Tucker is set to miss at least several weeks, while Dockers coach Justin Longmuir is hopeful Walters was just suffering from cramp instead of a hamstring strain.

Defender Brennan Cox, who was a late withdrawal with a hip injury, is expected to be fit to take on Collingwood in Perth on Sunday night.

Longmuir also expects Nat Fyfe (hamstring) to return, while spearhead Jesse Hogan (calf) and Sam Sturt (ankle) are also chances.