Exciting youngster Nathan Djerrkura will return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines in the Bendigo Bank Cats’ relocated match against the Casey Scorpions at Casey Fields on Sunday.

Coach Leigh Tudor confirmed last night the 18-year-old will make his long-awaited comeback from a quad injury this week, but conceded rookie Liam Bedford is still struggling to shrug his quad injury and will miss at least another week.

The Cats’ clash with the Scorpions, originally scheduled for Skilled Stadium, has been relocated to Casey Fields because of the unplayable surface at Geelong’s home ground.

Brent Prismall will miss with a wrist injury, while versatile defender Sam Hunt is still a couple of weeks away from returning with a finger injury.

Tudor said the injury to Prismall was a tough setback, but is optimistic the in-form midfielder won’t be sidelined for too long.

“He was playing very good footy and he’s had a very consistent year, so it’s disappointing for him, but he won’t be out for too long hopefully and we’ll see him back very soon,” he said.

Ruckman Steven King hit the ground running in his return match last week, collecting 18 possessions and dominating the ruck with 38 hit outs.

Tudor indicated King was not far away from seriously pressing for senior contention.

“King’s just got to get his body right and that’s what he’s doing,” he said.

“He’s trained well this week and he needs to continually play and try to impress to get back in.”

Casey entered the top eight for the first time since round three last week after an impressive victory over Williamstown at Burbank Oval.

St. Kilda’s Fergus Watts was the chief destroyer in attack with five goals, while Shane Birss was penetrating through the midfield all afternoon.

The victory culminated in a watershed month for the Scorpions, who have rocketed back into finals contention with four wins from their past five matches, after languishing in 11th position after round eight.

Kyle Matthews has been dynamite through the midfield this season for Casey, emerging as a driving force behind the side’s resurgence this season.

Justin Sweeny, with 33 goals, has had a consistent performance in front of goals as the side’s major focal point, while David Biagi has worked tirelessly through the midfield.

Tudor said the match is poised a genuine test for the table-topping Cats.

“Casey have been good - they’ve won four of their last five games, they’re seventh on the ladder now and they’re starting to put it all together,” he said.

“They’re a good side – a lot of St. Kilda players have come back and their Casey senior players are playing some good footy, so it’s really going to be a huge game.”

The Cats were beaten in the clearances last week against Frankston and Tudor said it would be one of the side’s key focuses to rectify this week.

“We were pretty disappointing in the clearances last week,” he said.

“We won the hit outs but lost the clearances, so we’ll have an extra effort on the stoppages this week and also just playing to team rules all day.”

The trek to Cranbourne imposes no fear on the Cats, who remain undefeated at the newly established venue.

In round five this season, the Cats obliterated Casey by 81 points, while in round 17 last year, they equaled the club’s record of the most consecutive goals in a match.

The Cats kicked 15 straight goals and did not register a behind until midway through the third quarter, before cruising to a comfortable 29–point victory.

The action gets underway from 2pm on Sunday.

This is now a Casey Scorpions home match – Geelong members receive free entry.