While coach Chris Scott would not divulge on Wednesday where Dangerfield will start in the preliminary final at the Adelaide Oval, Bartel said his former teammate was needed at the centre bounce in a bid to help the Cats quell - and thrive - against the Crows' deep midfield.

The decision to start Dangerfield at full-forward against Sydney last Friday was a match-winning one, with the champion midfielder finding room inside the attacking 50 and booting four first-half goals.

"I would have him in the middle. I would have Sam Menegola start the game out of the goal square and swap it after 10 minutes," Bartel said.

"The territory game is more important early against the Crows than it was against the Swans. Against the Swans, it was about making them pay for all the inside 50s Geelong get against them."

Menegola has been impressive up the ground and inside attacking 50 this season. He has 16 goals this season, including two against the Swans.

The Cats understand how important a strong start will be in hostile territory, so getting first hands on the ball will be pivotal. But there has also been public debate that, by starting Dangerfield up forward, it would reinforce the Cats' attacking intent.

Tom Lonergan's late withdrawal because of food poisoning against the Swans sparked a reshuffle of the Cats' forward line. Harry Taylor, who may have begun up forward, was given the job on Lance Franklin, and prospered. However, with Lonergan expected to return against the Crows, Taylor could start up forward, ensuring there is more potency, and allowing Dangerfield to help take on the dominant Crouch brothers and Rory Sloane in the middle.

Taylor booted five goals against the Crows in Adelaide when the teams met in round 18.

Dangerfield, hampered by a foot issue, had 25 disposals in a 21-point loss, where Brad and Matt Crouch and Sloane found plenty of the ball and dominated contested possessions - one of Dangerfield's areas of expertise. Scott Selwood or Mark Blicavs, the latter fresh from having shut down Josh Kennedy, are expected to have a tagging role on Matt Crouch.

Scott says the decision on the Brownlow medallist has been made but refused to disclose it. He insists where he starts his best player is largely irrelevant.

"I know this might be obvious to all, but he'll play both parts of the ground. So I know there will be a big focus on where he starts," he said.

"I don't think we'll surprise Adelaide, irrespective of where we start him. I know where he'd like to start," Scott added with a smirk. "But it's not black and white for him, so he's got a preference."

When asked why he would consider starting Dangerfield anywhere other than forward, the coach replied: "Probably because he's the best onballer in the competition, that's the most compelling argument, I think. If he played as a deep forward the whole season he might be close to the best deep forward in the comp as well, so I see that side of it."

The decision to start Dangerfield up forward on Dane Rampe caught the Swans off guard, and has prompted goal-kicking great Matthew Richardson to question why coaches don't look to isolate their best player inside attacking 50 more often. But Scott said he had not been taking any notice of external commentary.

"I'm pretty protected from the maniacs," he said with a smile, later clarifying that he was in no way referring to the media.

"I've had some really good advice from people who I listen to who are close to the club. I hope I don't sound like a smart alec there, I'm not across a lot of things that have been said."

Dangerfield is determined to have a big night, particularly since Josh Jenkins said the Crows wanted to prove to their former teammate why he should not have left.

Consistency has been a challenge for Geelong, both week-to-week and quarter-to-quarter, an issue that has been well advertised in the past fortnight.

A slow, fumbling Geelong team was out-hunted and overawed by a rampaging Richmond in the qualifying final. Seven days later, the same team dismantled Sydney, who had won 15 of their previous 17 games.

"Every week is different," Scott said. "We're optimistic that we can play well, but we never prepare ourselves for a game looking back on what we did last week.

"If we attempt to replicate exactly what we did last week against different opposition, I think we're going to be found wanting."

Scott confirmed that Lonergan was all but a certain starter and believes it might not have been food poisoning that forced him to withdraw against the Swans. Tom Stewart appears to have recovered from a minor hamstring issue and is also likely to play.

Excitement machine Nakia Cockatoo will be part of the 25-man squad to travel to Adelaide, although seems an outside chance of playing.

When asked about the Crows, Scott commented: "They play a very dangerous system ahead of the ball.

"If [Eddie] Betts and [Taylor] Walker and Jenkins - and [Mitch] McGovern if he plays - and [Charlie] Cameron all fire ??? and [Tom] Lynch, they can be so hard to stop.

"We'll still concentrate mainly on what we do."