Geelong are unsure whether All-Australian forward Cameron Mooney will return for Friday night's AFL match against North Melbourne at Telstra Dome.

Mooney was a late withdrawal from last Saturday night's win over Carlton with soreness.

Coach Mark Thompson said that the Cats would have to wait and see whether Mooney had recovered from a knock he suffered the week before in the big loss to Collingwood.

But ruckman Brad Ottens suffered no ill-affects in his first game for the year.

Ottens has been a major absence for the Cats with a foot injury and Thompson is rapt to have him back in the side.

The Cats coach said it will take at least a month for Ottens to adjust to the physical demands of the AFL.

The last time Geelong played North Melbourne, they thrashed them by more than 100 points in last year's qualifying final.

Thompson said the Kangaroos are only human as they try to redeem themselves for that woeful performance.

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