Geelong have vowed they won't rest players in their final home-and-away match next weekend, seeing it as a full dress rehearsal for the upcoming AFL finals.

With star midfielder Gary Ablett clearly nursing a hand problem after the Cats' 42-point win over Carlton on Friday night, coach Mark Thompson quickly put to rest the notion of resting players ahead of the finals in a fortnight.

Ablett finished the match with strapping on his left hand after it was trod on during the third quarter.

Geelong are confident the injury is not a serious concern, and to be fair, it did little to hinder Ablett in a four-goal haul against the Blues at Etihad Stadium.

If Ablett is ready to play, as well as ruckman Brad Ottens and defender Andrew Mackie - who both missed the Blues game with a virus - all can expect to be fronting up for duty against struggling West Coast next Saturday.

"We're going to play a full strength side. We probably could have played Ottens and Mackie (against Carlton) - but they were a little bit sick and it takes a bit out of them," Thompson said.

"If it was the same degree of sickness next week we'd probably play them.

"We'll try to get our best side on the park."

The biggest concern for the Cats is forward James Podsiadly's looming suspension for a clumsy high challenge on Carlton's Bryce Gibbs.

While he somehow escaped an on-field report for the incident despite being spoken to by an umpire, the AFL match review panel is certain to have it high on the list of incidents to look at from the weekend's matches.

Podsiadly booted four goals against the Blues to continue his remarkable season.

But should his absence stretch into the finals, it could give the Cats huge structural headaches.

Carlton are confident their two late withdrawals against the Cats - ruck-forward Shaun Hampson and tagger Aaron Joseph - will overcome ankle injuries to face Fremantle at Subiaco Oval next Friday night.

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