GEELONG forward James Podsiadly is set to miss Saturday night's historic first night match at Simonds Stadium against Gold Coast after injuring his knee and ankle during last weekend's win over Port Adelaide.

The Cats are likely to be boosted by the return of much-hyped key position player Nathan Vardy, who has been earmarked to replace Podsiadly and line up in his first AFL match for the season.

"He is in the mix," Geelong coach Chris Scott said of Vardy.

"We had a plan with 'Vards' that was always a little bit fluid. We weren't locked in to any parts of it except that he would have an extended run in the VFL, which he's had."

Vardy, who played only two AFL games last year, was troubled by groin and hip problems over the pre-season.

After returning to action via the VFL when the Cats played Frankston on April 28, the 21-year-old has since played three more games at that level.

He booted six goals in a commanding display against Werribee on May 4, was quieter in his next outing against Collingwood, then booted four majors in a best-on-ground performance against the Casey Scorpions last weekend.

"We will strongly consider bringing him in this week or next week. We haven't quite made that decision yet," Scott said.
Vardy's return will be a great relief to everyone at Geelong.

"We were starting to get a little bit hesitant with our long-term injured players," Scott said.

"Obviously we were ecstatic when Dan Menzel got back to playing, and then we were all disappointed with the outcome.

"Josh Cowan has had a horrible run (with an Achilles problem). He came back and played VFL footy on the weekend, but he's hurt his hamstring a little bit, so he's going to miss a few weeks.

"So it kind of tempers our enthusiasm a little bit.

"But Nathan has been first-class in his approach to his rehab and he's played really well in VFL footy, so we can have the utmost confidence that when he comes in he's going to play very good AFL football, as opposed to just coming in and being a bit-part player."

Podsiadly was confined to rehab work while his teammates were put through a testing session on Tuesday morning.
"He's escaped some serious injury," club physio Mike Snelling told CatsTV.

"He had a scan (on Monday). He's got some bruising in his bone in his knee, and he's also got some ligament problems in his ankle.
"We'll take it easy with him for another day or so and then look at him at the end of the week and then assess him then."

Of the three Cats youngsters – George Horlin-Smith (corked quad), Billie Smedts (ankle) and Josh Caddy (quad) – who missed the win over Port Adelaide, Smedts is considered the best chance to play this weekend.

"Billie Smedts is in a pretty good position," Scott said. "You'd think that he would be available.

"Horlin-Smith and Caddy we're still not sure about."

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, who was subbed out of the game against the Power at three-quarter time after suffering a knock to his elbow and another to the side of his head, is fine and will line up against the Suns.

Selwood will have some more help in the middle this weekend, with James Kelly returning after serving his two-match suspension.

Adam McNicol covers Geelong news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_AdamMcNicol