EXCITING Geelong youngster Nakia Cockatoo is a chance to return to the Cats' line-up for the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.

Coach Chris Scott said the 20-year-old was an automatic inclusion into the senior team if declared fit after missing the past two games because of a thumb injury.

"He's an exciting player for us and we think we have suffered a little bit the last couple of weeks for not having him," Scott said.

"The information so far is that it looks like he will be available, and given that, he'll play."

Cockatoo played well against Fremantle in round one and is on track to becoming a critical part of the Cats' forward mix in his third season at the club.

He trained with a protective guard on his hand on Wednesday and will still need to prove his fitness over the weekend.

Midfielder George Horlin-Smith will need to pass a fitness test to play against Hawthorn on Easter Monday.

The 24-year-old will have a wire removed from his hand on Thursday after having surgery to repair a broken thumb following his match-winning effort against North Melbourne in round two.

Although Horlin-Smith had a light day on the track on Wednesday, Geelong physiotherapist Mark Young told the club's website he remained hopeful the midfielder could return.

"As long as that goes well he'll have a test and potentially play this weekend," Young said.

Horlin-Smith won a free kick in the dying minutes of the round two game against North in front of goal and was able to kick truly to give the Cats the lead for the first time for the match.

Geelong hung on to win by a point but Horlin-Smith broke his thumb in the contest and had to miss last week's win over Melbourne.

Jake Kolodjashnij will play his first game of the season, returning via the VFL against Werribee at Torquay on Sunday after experiencing a bout of glandular fever followed by groin problems in the pre-season.

The defender played 20 games last season, cementing a spot in the Cats' back half.