Geelong coach Chris Scott says his squad for Friday night’s pre-season cup round one matches will be light on for senior players but still a strong line-up.

Scott says the AFL’s defending premiers are keen to give 19-year-old utility Billie Smedts and 29-year-old ruck recruit Orren Stephenson every opportunity to impress against St Kilda and Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

The 189cm Smedts was Geelong’s first pick in the 2010 draft, taken at No.15 overall as a round one compensatory selection for Gary Ablett.

Smedts is yet to play a senior game and sat out all of last season with a hip injury.

However the North Warrnambool product has been training well and has the potential to be a true utility player, Scott said on Tuesday.

“Billie hasn’t played a lot of footy full stop, even as a junior,” Scott said.

“He has good speed and agility so he can play through the midfield. Early on we see him more as a defender than a forward.

“If his training form can be replicated on a bigger stage then we’ll be very excited and Orren will play significant game time in the ruck.

“We’re confident that he can do the job but until we see him against genuine opposition we’re still not sure.”

David Wojcinski (foot), Travis Varcoe (foot), ruckman Nathan Vardy (hip), big forward James Podsiadly (shoulder) and young forward Daniel Menzel (knee) are among the Cats players to be rested this week.

But Scott said he was confident the Cats would still field a strong side.

“On paper to people who don’t know the Geelong list all that well, it will probably look pretty inexperienced,” he said.

We’ve got a few guys who have had two or three years in the system. They haven’t had much exposure to AFL football but they’re ready to perform at least at this level.

“In terms of our experienced players, we’ll be a little lighter on there.”

Scott also said Mitch Brown, Josh Cowan and premiership player Allen Christensen won’t play this week.

AA