Geelong key forward Tom Hawkins says he’s feeling good and is confident he’ll be ready to take on Hawthorn in next Friday night’s AFL preliminary final.

The Cats’ reigning best and fairest, who missed last weekend’s qualifying final loss to Fremantle with a back injury that has troubled him all season, returned to kick two second-half goals in Friday night’s comeback semi-final win over Port Adelaide.

While acknowledging the injury makes his ability to play a day-to-day proposition, Hawkins said he felt as good as he could after the Port match, boding well for the preliminary final.

“I felt fantastic,” Hawkins said.

“It was as good as I could hope for.

“I was really excited to get back out there. I was disappointed I missed last week but it was great to be back out there amongst it.”

He said he and the club were working hard to try to keep him in shape.

“We’re doing everything we can and we have done all year,” Hawkins said.

“As frustrating as it is for the fans, I can tell you it’s twice as frustrating for me.”

He likes his chances of playing next Friday night.

“I’d like to think so. I felt great, so hopefully,” the big forward said.