Geelong have put aside concerns with the quality of ANZ Stadium's surface, declaring the ground fit to host their round-20 clash with Sydney on Saturday night.

Cats officials inspected the surface while the team completed their final training run late on Friday afternoon, before giving it the all-clear.

Despite the AFL's assurances earlier this week that the condition of the ground was no longer an issue, Geelong would not make their decision until they saw it on Friday.

"We haven't ticked it off," coach Mark Thompson said before flying out of Melbourne.

"I think the AFL are up there checking it right now and we'll obviously have a look at it later on today.

"We wanted it to be suitable to play an AFL game, we will demand that.

"We're going out there today to train and we'll certainly have a look at it up close."

The ground had been the subject of stinging criticism following the round-14 AFL match between Sydney and Collingwood on July 15.

In that game, huge divots were made on the ground, particularly on the wings. The playing surface had been covered by retractable seating only three days earlier for the NRL's State of Origin decider.

The players had also said they were unable to kick with confidence and had genuine concerns the constantly shifting surface would cause leg injuries.

So concerned were the Cats about the surface, they wrote to the AFL last month and demanded it be fixed before this Saturday night.

The league oversaw a program of maintenance and turf replacement since the round-14 match.

Thompson's concern stemmed from his determination to avoid any further injury concerns just three games from the finals.

Paul Chapman (hamstring), Darren Milburn (groin) and David Wojcinski (Achilles) will be missing from Saturday night's match.

While all three travelled with the team to Sydney, Thompson hoped their injury layoff would make them re-charged for their return against North Melbourne next week.

"I think more than ever if you have some players can miss a few games during the year is absolutely a good thing because they come back fresh and in a good head space and really looking forward to playing footy," Thompson said.

"So I don't think it's a problem at all."

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