Veteran AFL superstar Gary Ablett's long-touted rest appears to be on hold for another week as Geelong sweat on the availability of hobbled Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Dangerfield.
Doubt remains over Dangerfield's availability for Saturday night's clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium after he sustained an ankle injury in last week's win over the Western Bulldogs.
Cats coach Chris Scott couldn't offer much of an update on Wednesday other than to tell reporters that he remains hopeful the injury won't rule Dangerfield out.
The ladder leaders have been mulling when to give Ablett, who turned 35 last week, a rest but Scott said it was unlikely the veteran would miss the match against his old side if Dangerfield is unfit to make the trip north.
"Not at this stage, but there's a lot of inputs that go into the decision-making around whether we manage players or not," Scott replied when asked if it was Ablett's turn to take a break.
"Part of that is the team that you're capable of putting out in any given week.
"I don't want to make it about Gary and Pat necessarily but it has to factor into your decision-making ... if Pat doesn't come up then it's unlikely we'd be proactive (and rest) Gary."
If the Cats are unable to make a final decision on Dangerfield's availability on Thursday he will be named in the team and will travel to Queensland, leaving the final call to be made on match day.
Scott, who will coach his 200th AFL match, dismissed the idea his side's lofty ladder position compared to that of the 16th-placed Suns allowed him greater latitude in selecting his line-up.
"I just don't subscribe to the theory that we're in ripping form and we can go and play anyone and beat them," he said.
"Gold Coast have had so many close games this year and they certainly haven't been blown away up there.
"It doesn't take much more than a cursory glance at their results to realise that to beat them you actually need to take the game away from them, they won't roll over and give us anything at all."
