St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says Round 13 combatants Steven Baker and Steve Johnson will almost certainly line-up on each other at the MCG on Friday night.
Baker was controversially banned for nine matches in St Kilda's 24-point win over the Cats, sparking widespread debate about defenders unfairly irritating opponents.
After keeping the 2007 Norm Smith medalist quiet in a wet Friday night in June, Baker was charged by the Match Review Panel with three counts of striking Johnson and another of interfering with an injured player after he hit Johnson's injured hand.
For his part in the match-long scrap, Johnson served three weeks for striking Baker.
But Lyon backed his pesky tagger to overcome his nine-week spell with another shut-down job on the dangerous forward.
"He's a very, very good footballer, an incredibly hard and unrelenting player," Lyon said.
Lyon said he was confident the provocative defender had the fitness to run out the match despite his extended lay-off, which included a period of recovery after the 30-year-old dropped a bowling ball on his foot.
"They (Geelong) have a number of dangerous small forwards, (Shannon) Byrnes, (Travis) Varcoe, (Gary) Ablett can go forward, obviously Steve Johnson, and he (Baker)could certainly help us at his best,'' Lyon said.
Geelong assistant coach Brenton Sanderson says he expects Baker and Johnson to play within the rules.
"I don't think there'll be any fireworks like there was last time," Sanderson said.
"Both players would be aware there'll be a lot of TV cameras on them and a lot of people watching."
"They'll play the game in the right spirit."
Curiously, the same three umpires who controlled the spiteful grand final re-match encounter have been appointed to call the shots in Friday night's qualifying final.
Geelong have welcomed back Joel Selwood (buttock) and Corey Enright (foot) from minor injury problems, while Josh Hunt returns from suspension.
The Cats are missing only two regular players, with full-forward James Podsiadly due back from suspension next week and tough utility Max Rooke still sidelined.
St Kilda is at full-strength for the MCG clash after the returns of goalsneaks Stephen Milne and Adam Schneider, who both missed the Saints' Round 22 loss to Adelaide.
A week's rest and preliminary final qualification is up for grabs for the winners, while the loser will face the winner of Hawthorn and Fremantle in a semi-final next weekend.