Hamish McIntosh, who is set to make his first debut with the Cats after coming off the long-term injury list, is not likely to play a full game on his return.

This Friday night the Cats take on Melbourne for their second NAB Challenge in Alice Springs.  

Geelong’s General Manager of Football, Neil Balme, says it will be up to how the ruckman feels on the night to how much game time he will actually play.

Nonetheless, the Cats and McIntosh are just excited to have his name finally on the list.

“It really depends on how he feels before (the match) and what we do. You wouldn’t think he would play a full game,” Balme told News Limited.

“It’s just nice to get him back on the track and see what it’s like again.

“I reckon he would be pretty nervous given his history, the poor bugger. But he shouldn’t be, but it’s not a bad sign.”

Geelong’s skipper will also make a return to the field after having a minor procedure done to his right foot in January.  

“He is right to go, it’s just a matter of how much we play him,” Balme said.

“I don’t think he’d play the whole game (either), but he’d be keen to you’d reckon.”

Balme admits that this year’s short NAB Cup Challenge has forced the Cats to alter their practice match system, which gave young Cats a go and older ones a rest.

The new timeframe restricts the Cats to a much smaller list, as now there are not enough games to play every player they want to.

“It’s a difficult program because there is three games only and 14 days between (the games),” Balme said.

“We can only play a certain number. They have obviously got something minor, which would say we give them a bit of a breather.

Despite this, the Cats are determined to give everyone a small go.

“There’s no big deal. It’s just a matter of us only being able to pick 29 and we need to give everyone a shot.”