Straight sets.

They’re the two words that will haunt Geelong fans as they prepare for Friday night’s AFL semi-final against West Coast at the MCG.

Having succumbed to a week-one finals defeat for the third straight year, the Cats must win to survive.

A loss to the Eagles will make Geelong the first minor premiers to be bundled out in straight sets since the top eight was introduced in 1994.

Their recent September record does not bode well – since winning the 2011 premiership, they’ve lost 10 of 13 finals.

Bookmakers have installed the Eagles as favourites in Friday night’s game after the reigning premiers, bolstered by the return of superstar ruckman Nic Naitanui, thrashed Essendon in their home elimination final.

The AFL’s choice of venue is another key factor.

There was never any realistic chance the league would schedule the final at GMHBA Stadium given its meagre 36,000 crowd capacity.

But the Cats have fumed at having to host finals at the MCG given their significantly better record at the longer and skinnier Kardinia Park.

The MCG will hold no fears for the Eagles, who have won five of their past six games there and are used to playing on the similar-sized Optus Stadium.

While West Coast’s precise kicking game is perfectly suited to the wide expanses of the ‘G, the same can’t be said for Geelong.

Collingwood star Taylor Adams noted the Pies had gone into their qualifying-final victory with a distinct plan to force the Cats wide.

“They are the slowest team in the AFL and that’s worked really for them,” Adams said on Seven’s Game Day.

“They’ve got a couple of guys they can kick to down the line; Dangerfield gets there a fair bit and creates a contest.

“I think the one thing that probably played into our hands a little bit was the fact we were able to own the corridor a lot and force them really wide.

“They’re probably not used to playing on a wider ground like the MCG compared to GMHBA.”

The Cats will be without midfielder Mitch Duncan (knee) for Friday night’s game but ruckman Rhys Stanley appears certain to be recalled.

Coach Chris Scott was roasted after withdrawing Stanley from the qualifying final in a bid to mitigate forecast rain that never arrived.

Premiership coach Paul Roos said it was a terrible selection and fellow commentator David King said Scott’s “horrendous mistake” had cost them the game.