Mark O'Connor or Brandan Parfitt shape as the likely replacement for Max Holmes in Geelong's AFL grand final team after the injured wingman was ruled out.
The big decision was made on Friday afternoon, despite Holmes moving well during a fitness test on his injured hamstring that morning.
The 20-year-old, who suffered the injury during the preliminary final against Brisbane, did not take part in the Cats' light training run at the MCG on Friday afternoon.
He spoke to club staff on the boundary line as his teammates completed light work ahead of Saturday's season decider against Sydney.
Irishman O'Connor has been the medi-sub in the Cats' two previous finals and appears the most likely replacement for Holmes.
Parfitt and Sam Menegola are also in the mix, named with O'Connor as emergencies alongside back-up ruckman Jon Ceglar.
On Friday, Geelong coach Chris Scott said O'Connor was "probably" the man to come in if Holmes was ruled out.
That would leave Parfitt or Menegola as the likely medi-sub.
"There are three guys over the last couple of weeks in our squad, in particular, that have been desperately unlucky," Scott said.
"Mark's been one of them, Sam Menegola is another and Brandan Parfitt is probably the other.
"There's another group of players beyond them but if you had have asked me 12 weeks ago, I would've said that those three guys are in our team for sure.
"I feel desperately for them but if Max doesn't come up it will be one of those guys that comes in."
Sydney have also had injury concerns during the week, but coach John Longmire insists Sam Reid (adductor) and Justin McInerney (ankle) will play.
Reid was substituted out of the preliminary final win over Collingwood but McInerney managed to finish the game.
"(Reid) got some scans on Monday and that was really encouraging, so we were confident from that point," Longmire said.
"He did some training on Thursday and did exactly what he needed to do.
"Our medical staff have been terrific, we were always confident that (McInerney) would be right.
"He finished off the game strongly last week so he's right to go."
