JOEL Selwood appears on track to be fit for Geelong’s qualifying final clash against Richmond at the MCG next Friday night. 

The Geelong skipper trained strongly at Deakin University's Elite Sports Precinct on Saturday morning, shifting direction and running unimpeded in the rehab group off to the side. 

Selwood, who suffered a syndesmosis ankle injury against Sydney in round 20, then progressed to join the main group in the latter stages of match simulation. 

After having surgery to repair his ankle, the star midfielder is aiming to return to the field just 35 days after sustaining the injury.

"I'm going well, that's all I can really say. I'll let it continue to go this way and I'm more likely than unlikely," Selwood told reporters. 

"We'll wait right up to the moment and we'll see how I'm feeling. 

"As I said I expect to be named and we'll go from there." 

Selwood said how he pulls up ahead of his next session on Monday would be crucial to his chances.

Geelong has its final main training session on Wednesday before the blockbuster match on Friday, which looms as a key session for the club's captain. 

During his hour stint with the rehab group, Selwood did straight-line running, change of direction drills and some touch work with teammates Rhys Stanley and George Horlin-Smith. 

After joining in around 15 minutes of match practice, where he racked up half a dozen touches, he finished the session with length of the ground run throughs to tick off what he needed to do. 

Forward James Parsons did not train as he continues his rehab after sustaining a mid-foot sprain against Greater Western Sydney in round 23. 

Parsons will aim to prove his fitness for the game against the Tigers on the track next week. 

Nakia Cockatoo trained at a solid pace in rehab as he increases his training load in the coming weeks. 

Cockatoo has not played since hurting his hamstring against Carlton in round 19, which follows two other occasions this year where he has strained his hamstring. 

Harry Taylor played mostly up forward in the match practice and took a number of strong grabs against his opponents, while Zach Tuohy linked up well through the middle of the ground and was the standout in the match simulation. 

Scott Selwood worked hard around the ball and in transition and Tom Stewart distributed the ball well down back, sharing the kick-in duties with Tuohy. 

A crowd of 95,000 is expected for next Friday night's game, with the second-placed Cats taking on the third-placed Tigers.