The mercurial 29-year-old will return to Geelong's side to challenge Port Adelaide, fifth on the ladder, at Football Park tomorrow.

The Cats also recalled James Rahilly and Paul Chapman into the side thrashed by Hawthorn, with Marc Woolnough, Steven Johnson and Josh Hunt axed at selection.

Port captain Matthew Primus will be given until the 11th hour to prove his fitness after being named in the Power line-up.

Burns - the Cats' leading goalkicker for the past five seasons - has had an injury-interrupted start to the season, having booted just five goals from as many games.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson conceded Burns, back from a hip injury, was out of form but predicted a return to the scoreboard for the Cats' crowd-pleasing goalkicker.

``I don't think his form is great,'' Thompson said. ``He never had a great pre-season, he had a few hiccups. I just think he will start to come good soon.

``Every year he gets his 30 to 40 goals and you never know, he hasn't kicked many at this stage, but he has been pretty consistent over the years.''

Geelong needs Burns' forward firepower, with the side averaging just over 14 goals a game this year.

Thompson said the Cats need to kick at least 16 goals to be in a winning position, but they've done that on only two occasions this season.

``We just need to get it in (the forward line) more,'' Thompson said last night.

``When we get it in more, our forwards will kick goals . . . . we have a pretty good conversion rate inside 50.''

Embattled skipper Ben Graham will be given another chance up forward, with a steadfast Thompson naming the out-of-sorts star at centre half-forward.

``He's feeling fine,'' Thompson said. ``He had a quiet game last week, the week before he wasn't too bad. People are jumping at shadows.''

Asked if he had seen a change in Graham on the track this week, he said: ``I just know he trained well the other night and I'm sure he will come out and play reasonable footy on the weekend.''

Primus (back) and utility Brett Montgomery (strained knee) are expected to take part in Port's final training session today to prove their fitness. Barnaby French will replace the injured Brendon Lade while Brent Guerra was included at the expense of utility Michael Stevens.