GEELONG football operations manager Neil Balme expects Paul Chapman to play in Friday night's preliminary final against the Bulldogs despite a back-related hamstring strain.

Chapman has had the injury for much of the second half of the season and has missed six games.

Balme said yesterday that Chapman would not have to prove his fitness to the match committee but just make it through training to be selected.

"He's just got to train like the rest of the players. You can't know what's going to happen between now and then (the game), but we do expect him to be right."

Balme added that James Kelly would almost certainly return from a quadriceps injury to replace Brent Prismall (knee).

The Bulldogs also have limited injury concerns, missing only Tom Williams and Scott West from their best line-up.

Hawthorn is confident defender Trent Croad's injured foot will have recovered going into their Saturday night preliminary final against St Kilda.

Hawks football operations manager Mark Evans said yesterday the club was being cautious with Croad's recovery because of having the luxury of a week off.

"If we had of played, Trent would have been right for last weekend, we would have just managed his injury a little differently," Evans said.