Forgotten Geelong recruit Jack Martin is "ready to go" for a fresh start with the Cats, however the club is taking a cautious approach with the injury-riddled ex-Blue.
Martin found a career lifeline at Kardinia Park over the off-season following a five-year stint with Carlton that saw him kept to just 54 games in the navy blue due to an extended history of soft-tissue setbacks.
The Cats rolled the dice on the 30-year-old's services and have called for patience since his move down the freeway, with Martin steadily building his workloads over the summer.
Gold Coast's Mini Draft addition back in 2012, Martin is an outside chance to be part of Chris Scott's plans for the early parts of the coming campaign even though he has "been training really well" this pre-season.
Martin featured in the Cats' internal match shortly after the senior squad's clash with Hawthorn on Monday afternoon in his first key hitout in the hoops.
"We've probably slowed him, that's been our decision," Cats assistant James Rahilly said.
"He's ready to go, he's been training really well. He'll play (in the intra-club) and then progress from there. What that is, I'm not 100 per cent sure yet.
"But he's been going really well, we're quite excited."
Geelong's forward mix - home to star attackers Jeremy Cameron, Tyson Stengle, Gryan Miers, Bradley Close, Ollie Henry and Ollie Dempsey - is set to receive extra support from a supporting cast including senior talent like Martin.
Another name firming for more forward action is captain and Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Dangerfield, who was used deep in the forward 50 against the Hawks.
Rahilly flagged fans can expect to see more of Dangerfield as a forward target, with the 34-year-old to assist both the midfield and forward groups in his 18th season.
"At times we weren't as good around the ball as we'd like to be," Rahilly said after Monday's game.
"There'll be times we'll definitely need Paddy playing through the midfield. He's trained a fair bit forward and he's gone really well. He'll look to play more next week.
"We had a lot of guys role through [midfield], we've got some pretty strong depth there. They've all been helping one another."
The Cats are set to name a full-strength side when they host Essendon at GMHBA Stadium next Tuesday, with Dangerfield, Bailey Smith and other key Geelong figures preparing for full matches after featuring in limited action against the Hawks.
Geelong's Community Series clash with the Bombers will be their final game of the pre-season in preparation for an Opening Round bout with Brisbane at the Gabba on Thursday, March 6.
