Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins available for selection as Tom Hawkins set to return in three weeks

Tom Atkins has been sidelined for the past two weeks. Will he return to face the Crows? Plus, updates on Tom Hawkins, Cam Guthrie and more.

Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins is poised to return from injury against Adelaide on Saturday in another boost to the Cats’ on-ball brigade.

Atkins, 28, was a late withdrawal from his side’s loss to the Western Bulldogs with a back and hamstring injury, and then missed Geelong’s win over North Melbourne after the Cats opted to take a conservative approach.

The Cats are only missing Cam Guthrie (achilles) from their full strength midfield group after Tanner Bruhn’s AFL return last week, but Guthrie’s return date remains unclear with his troublesome injury that has sidelined him since round 10.

Champion goalkicker Tom Hawkins is on track to play in round 24 against West Coast with the club listing him as three weeks away with his foot injury.

Key defender Sam De Koning was put on ice in the final quarter against the Roos after a collision earlier in the match but is set to face the Crows.

The Cats will have to make one forced change after Gary Rohan was concussed on Saturday.

Gary Rohan was subbed out with concussion. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

“We’ll assess each day how Gary is tracking, and we’ll know more as he progresses around availability to play in the coming weeks. We’ll ensure Gary is well looked after,” Geelong assistant football boss Brett Johnson said.

Veteran playmaker Zach Tuohy was managed last week and is another potential inclusion this week.

Fringe Cats Mitch Knevitt (27 disposals, nine tackles and two goals), Jhye Clark (23 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal) and Brandan Parfitt (23 disposals and a goal) all did their chances of a recall no harm in the Cats’ VFL win over North Melbourne.

Experienced ruckman Rhys Stanley was on standby on the weekend in Hobart and hasn’t featured at AFL level since round 13.

First-year Cat Oli Wiltshire will play his first game since round four in the VFL after a long lay-off with a pelvis injury.

Originally published as Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins available for selection as Tom Hawkins set to return in three weeks