If there were any nerves still circling Kardinia Park heading into the final round of the season, they've certainly been piqued overnight, with Geelong confirming star forward Jeremy Cameron will require a short spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
While expected to be available for his side's opening fixture of the post-season, Cameron will enter rehabilitation on a "low-level" hamstring issue.
The time span between now and their qualifying final will hopefully give the Cats enough time to nurse their spearhead back to full fitness, with the former Giant having missed the opening five rounds of last season due to a similar ailment.
The Cats confirmed on Monday night that Cameron won't lace the boots to face the Eagles on Saturday, needing close to three weeks to aid his recovery.
The injury was sustained late into Geelong's Round 22 triumph over the Suns in Queensland, with the 29-year-old sitting out the last half of the fourth quarter.
“Jeremy came to bench late in the final quarter of Saturday’s game against the Gold Coast after reporting some low-level hamstring symptoms,” Geelong's head of medical and conditioning services Harry Taylor revealed, via the club's website.
“We chose to take a no risk policy and decided not to have him return to the field.
“Jeremy has assessed well, and scans today have confirmed low level fluid consistent with a minor strain.
“We will track his progress through the week and he will be managed according to benchmark measures. We expect Jeremy to be ready for our first Final.”
Cameron's injury narrows the Coleman Medal reace to three, with teammate Tom Hawkins currently seven goals behind leader Charlie Curnow, who sits on 62 majors heading into Round 23.
In another injury concern for the Cats, ruckman Rhys Stanley will also endure a spell on the sidelines as he battles an adductor injury.
Taylor confirmed that the injury will require multiple weeks of recuperation after Stanley was subbed out of last Saturday's win.
“Rhys experienced some adductor tightness during the game against the Gold Coast,” Taylor said.
“He has had a scan post this game which shows a low-grade adductor strain. Rhys will begin a reconditioning program that we expect will have him available for selection for the first final.”
The Cats will face West Coast at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 4:35pm (AEST) before their pre-finals bye.
Having clinched the minor premiership, the Cats will host a qualifying final in the opening week of September.