The prospect of steeplechaser-turned-ruckman Mark Blicavs manning Lance Franklin is far from fanciful.
The AFL's indigenous round starts on Thursday night when Sydney host Geelong, with key defender Tom Lonergan still in doubt for the SCG clash due to concussion he suffered against North Melbourne.
Lonergan was taken off at quarter-time after two knocks to the head last Friday night, leaving substitute Blicavs to hold down his key defensive post.
The athletic 23-year-old, who only turned his attention to the sport after missing out on the London 2012 Olympics, adjusted with aplomb in his 31st AFL match.
Now Cats coach Chris Scott must contemplate putting Blicavs further out of his comfort zone, should Lonergan fail to make the trip on Wednesday.
With the Swans' star-studded forward line boasting Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes and Sam Reid there would be no margin of error no matter who he plays on.
"If he (Lonergan) doesn't play then it opens up for another one of our younger players," Scott said.
"Mark Blicavs got his chance back there last week, and that could almost be a bit of a blessing for us.
"Because we've theorised about Mark as a key defender, but to actually see it in action probably confirmed some of our thinking."
Scott said on Tuesday it was too early to say whether Lonergan would be available, but promised if there was a skerrick of doubt he wouldn't be on the plane.
"I don't think you can be too conservative with head injuries," he said.
Meanwhile, luckless Cats forward Daniel Menzel underwent knee surgery to help him prepare for the 2015 pre-season.
Geelong last week ruled out a return for Menzel this season.
The 22-year-old was still experiencing tendinitis resulting from a fourth knee reconstruction.
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