Sydney coach Paul Roos said Geelong at their best could not be beaten after his side's 39-point loss to the reigning premiers.

Roos said with key players still to return to the Cats side on Saturday night, the AFL's competition leaders would only become more formidable in September.

"They're the benchmark," Roos said after the loss at ANZ Stadium.

"That's why they're reigning premiers and they have lost only one game this year.

"There's no question they are a cut above every team in the competition at the moment by a fair margin.

"I think if they play their best, there's no one who will beat them."

Geelong coach Mark Thompson was pleased with the way his team's defence responded to the late withdrawal of star fullback Matthew Scarlett, who had back soreness.

"A little while ago we would have really nerved-up and panicked-up if we didn't have Matthew Scarlett playing in the team," Thompson said.

"We are more relaxed and people fill a role and cover for him."

Thompson said Scarlett, Darren Milburn (groin), Paul Chapman (hamstring) and speedster David Wojcinski (Achilles) would all be back for Sunday's game at Skilled Stadium against North Melbourne.

"In the last quarter I think we probably put our cues in the rack a little bit and didn't really play the best footy but it really didn't matter," Thompson said after the Cats were outscored six goals to four in the final term.

"It was all about just getting through to next week really now."

Midfielder Gary Ablett gave a sensational performance with 32 possessions and three goals to seal another three votes in his Brownlow Medal bid.

But Thompson downplayed Geelong's "unbeatable" tag.

"I just know that on any given day we can be beaten," he said.

"It's more than just skill. You need a lot of luck.

"But we're a good side when we play well. I agree with that part."

Thompson praised the contributions of lower-profile players Shannon Byrnes (three goals), Tom Lonergan (three) and late inclusion Travis Varcoe (two).

The Cats are keen for another tough battle against the Kangaroos.

"They are fighting for a top-four spot so that will be a very competitive game and we couldn't ask for a better one," Thompson said.

All-Australian forward Cameron Mooney, who kicked two goals, said Geelong's motivation was simply to "keep winning".

"As soon as you take your foot off the pedal the game can really turn around and bite you," he said.

"We won't be flirting with our form. We won't be trying new things.

"We are just going to keep playing the next two weeks like we have been playing and that should give us a good ride into the finals."

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