Ruckman Toby Conway will play his second AFL game as Geelong prepare for a five-day break after their annual Easter Monday clash with Hawthorn.
The Cats made five changes for Tom Hawkins' 350th game as they factor in the short turnaround to Saturday night's Gather Round match against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.
Coach Chris Scott confirmed Conway would come in for his first game this season and replace Rhys Stanley, who watched Sunday morning training.
Zach Tuohy also was an onlooker and is another omission, while captain Patrick Dangerfield is out with a hamstring injury.
Mitch Duncan was a late withdrawal from last weekend's win over Adelaide because his wife Demi gave birth to their fourth child, while Tanner Bruhn (foot) and Tom Atkins (adductor) will also return.
Jack Bowes will play his first senior game this season and Mitch Knevitt and Shaun Mannagh go out of the line-up.
Scott said there was "no issue" with Stanley, instead pointing to the need for players to be managed through the season.
"Toby playing for Rhys is one I'm happy to flag," Scott said.
"There will be very few players who will play for us every week this year.
"But it's possible to read too much into these things in other areas because we did bring out quite a few players from our VFL game yesterday.
"We've got a short break into Gather Round, which doesn't scare us."
Hawthorn dropped Jack Gunston, Ned Reeves and Finn Maginness for Lloyd Meek, Harry Morrison and Henry Hustwaite.
The "Kennett Curse" once made Geelong's Easter Monday clashes with Hawthorn among the biggest games of the season.
The Hawks won as recently as two years ago, but Geelong belted them by 82 points on the long weekend last year and will start warm favourites this time.
The Cats have started the season with two wins, while Hawthorn are 0-2 after blowing too many chances against Essendon and having their tactics backfire badly last weekend against Melbourne.
Ahead of a big day for the club, given Hawkins' milestone, Scott was wary of referring to history as opposed to building on form.
"There's a fine line to be walked when it comes to drawing on the distant past - especially when in the next sentence you're likely to preach living in the moment," he said.
"So that fine line means balancing respect for the past and respect we have for the opposition and the occasion - and the fact it is a privilege.
"Not everyone gets to play on Easter Monday.
"Again, the priority for us being where we are right at the minute and getting that part right - that's the way we can honour the past the best."
