GEELONG coach Chris Scott is prepared to err on the side of caution and hold Daniel Menzel back from his much-anticipated comeback.

The 23-year-old has played six VFL games and is on the verge of a senior return after four knee reconstructions.

Menzel's last AFL match was the 2011 qualifying final.

Scott remains confident Menzel will return to the senior side by the end of the season, but it might not be Saturday night's match against St Kilda.

While he wants Menzel back in the AFL, Scott admits to worry about another serious injury if the first-round draft pick returns too quickly.

"I want to make sure we give him every chance to play another 150 games of AFL football," he told Fox Footy's AFL 360 program.

"If we make a mistake by being too tardy in getting him back, I can live with that one.

"I can't live with the reverse."

Scott also admitted there are a lot of indications that Menzel is ready.

"It's very, very tempting," he said.

"Why would we wait another week? It is a bit of the art versus the science.

"The science box has been ticked - our medical staff have had him available for AFL selection for a few weeks now."