RETURNING Cat Lincoln McCarthy believes his return to fitness will leave him primed for a finals push should he be called upon.

The injury hit forward told the Geelong Advertiser that two VFL outings prior to the Cats’ elimination final would leave him ready to take on the Demons if required.  

“For the optimist, I’ll get in a full game next week and then I’m basically available so all you can do is try and have a crack and play your role,” he said.

“If that’s what the AFL (side) is after, then I might get a call up, I don’t know.

“We’re here now and we’ve just got to keep ticking the boxes.”

McCarthy managed seven touches and a goal in three quarters in his return game against Box Hill on Saturday.

“I had an 8km cap, so I just had to get through that,” he said.

“I was done at three-quarter time, so I didn’t give us much for the day, but that wasn’t really the focus today — just have a crack and get through.

“I was running over a few ground balls and fumbling a bit, rushing my kicks. In terms of defensive transition running, it just wasn’t there at all really, I just didn’t have a lot in me.

Despite the rust and lack of legs, McCarthy achieved what he wanted against the Hawks.

“We came in today knowing I’d be a little bit underdone in terms of fitness, but that the hammy would cope.”

“It’s actually worked out really well,” he said.

If McCarthy can get through his second outing this week, he is confident his body will stand up if he gets a chance at AFL level.

“I haven’t really, apart from the foot injury, had anything too serious,” McCarthy said.

“I am confident (in my body), I probably just need a good pre-season really. We’ll get that going and I should be right.”