The intrigue as to where Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield starts the Preliminary Final against Adelaide will continue until the first bounce after the Cats decided to keep their cards close to their chest on Wednesday.

Coach Chris Scott admitted that Dangerfield had declared a preference about whether he began forward or in the midfield, but the coach was not about to share that information.

"I don't think we'll surprise Adelaide irrespective of where he will start," Scott said.

One thing that can be guaranteed is that Dangerfield will spend some time forward after his four-goal opening half in the semi-final as well as his bursts in the midfield.  

"I know where he would like to start, but it's not black and white for him. He has got a preference, [but] if he played him in the other spot I think he would be OK," Scott said.

Dangerfield began the Round 18 match against the Crows in the middle and Geelong conceded a goal within the first minute.

It never recovered, with the Crows easily winning the territory battle as the football spent 10 minutes more inside Adelaide's forward half than Geelong.

Scott said the Cats would continue to back the system they have used for most of the season in trying to get the balance right between attack and defence in the midfield.

The coach said it would be wrong to presume the Cats didn't try to curb Rory Sloane's influence when they met in Round 18, when the Crows star had 28 touches and kicked three goals.

However, he understood the threat Adelaide's midfielders and forwards posed if the Crows played the game on their terms. 

When asked whether a hard tag would be applied to Sloane or the other Crows' midfielders, Scott said it was possible.

"I don't think we will sit on all of them, but we won't go too far away from the system we have played most weeks this year," Scott said.

Nakia Cockatoo will be on the plane to Adelaide as the club contemplates whether to include the 20-year-old for his first game since round 19 when he re-injured his hamstring, while Tom Lonergan has recovered from an illness and will play.