But the bad news for the Cats is they will be replacing Tom Lonergan (concussion) and Corey Enright (ankle) in the side.
Johnson will be take the field after missing the Cats clash with North Melbourne due to suspension whilst Smedts will play his first AFL game for 2014 after playing his first VFL game last week.
The Cats will take on Sydney with confidence after beating them 12 of the last 14 times the two teams have played.
With round 11 marking indigenous round, the two sides will play for Marngrook Trophy whilst also wearing special indigenous jumpers.
The game will kick off at 7.10pm Thursday night at the SCG. Channel 7 will cover the game live into Melbourne with Triple M, 3AW, SEN, ABC and K-Rock providing radio coverage.
Cats side:
B: Mackie, Rivers, Bews
HB: Guthrie, Taylor, Johnson
C: Blicavs, Selwood, Duncan
HF: Varcoe, Murdoch, Motlop
F: Stringer, Hawkins, Bartel
R: McIntosh, Kelly, Stokes
IC: Horlin-Smith, Sheringham, Smedts, Simpson
EMG: Hunt, Hartman, Lang
