Reigning premiers Geelong are primed to build on their stirring win over AFL flag fancies Melbourne as they eye a charge towards September, Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij says.
Chris Scott's side could be bolstered by the return of captain Patrick Dangerfield for Friday night's high-stakes clash with Sydney at the SCG.
But they will be without key forward Jeremy Cameron, who is in concussion protocols after copping a brutal head knock in a collision with teammate Gary Rohan.
The accidental clash came early in the Cats' 15-point triumph over Melbourne on Thursday night, which squared their season record at 7-7 and put them on the edge of the top eight.
"We'd like to be a little bit better placed on the ladder but it is what it is," premiership defender Kolodjashnij told AAP.
"We've been a bit unfortunate, we seem to get guys back and someone else goes down. It was Patty (Dangerfield) last week and Jez (Cameron) this week.
"It's just the way the season has been playing out, but that's alright.
"We've got great depth and we've got some more guys on the mend who will hopefully get healthy soon.
"Hopefully we can find some form in the back half of the year on the back of this performance."
No.1 ruckman Rhys Stanley impressed on his comeback from an eye socket injury against Melbourne, while midfield gun Cam Guthrie (toe) and versatile tall Esava Ratugolea (hamstring) are set to return in coming weeks.
Geelong have destroyed Sydney in their two most recent meetings - an 81-point annihilation in last year's grand final and a 93-point thrashing in round six.
But they were beaten by 30 points on their last trip to Sydney, in round two last season, on a night when Swans superstar Lance Franklin kicked his 1000th career goal.
"It feels like every week's a big game for us especially because of where we're placed," Kolodjashnij said.
"We're looking forward to that challenge and they'll be fired up no doubt to get some payback for the last time we played them down here (in Geelong).
"We had a nice convincing win but they're always tough to play up there and we'll have to bring our best footy once again, but hopefully off the back of this win (over Melbourne) we can do that."
Dangerfield was eager to play against Melbourne last Thursday night - a week after suffering a cracked rib and a partially collapsed lung - but was overruled by club medical staff.
The midfield superstar has played just one game since round eight, when he sustained a hamstring injury, and is yet to be given the green light to return against Sydney.
"I know he'll be putting his hand up," Kolodjashnij said.
"It's just a matter of whether the medical team are confident he's right to go and he's not putting himself at too much risk."
