Vice-captain Dion Prestia has overcome illness and a minor shoulder niggle to be named in Rodney Eade’s 22 to face Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday night.

The midfielder was sidelined from the SUNS’ round five clash with a virus but trained strongly on Thursday morning to pass a fitness test and will take the field against the Cats if the club is satisfied on Saturday afternoon that he is right to play.

“Dion Prestia to our amazement has progressed really well,” Eade told United Coaches Chat on Thursday afternoon.

“He didn’t look great on Tuesday but he’s really strong in his mind that he wants to play. He’s worked really hard today and trained well, passed the test.

“Having said that, we won’t be playing anyone that’s not 100 per cent so we’ll take him to Geelong, we’ll take 24 (players), and we’ll make that decision about lunchtime on Saturday.”

Mature-aged rookie Ryan Davis returns to the senior line-up after being rested during last week’s loss to the Kangaroos, while Henry Schade bolsters the key defensive stocks after some impressive form in the reserves.

As reported earlier on goldcoastfc.com.au, fellow Tasmanian Mackenzie Willis will make his AFL debut after being selected with pick No. 52 in last year’s national draft.

READ: Mackenzie Willis to make AFL debut

Michael Rischitelli (shoulder) and Adam Saad (hip) will miss the trip to Geelong due to injury while Callum Ah Chee and Luke Russell have been omitted.

Round 6 AFL Premiership Team

B: C. Cameron, H. Schade, S. Lemmens
HB: J. Harbrow, S. Day, N. Malceski
C: K. Kolodjashnij, G. Ablett, M. Rosa
HF: T. Miller, T. Lynch, J. Martin
F: A. Sexton, P. Wright, R. Davis
FOLL: D. Currie, J. Lonergan, D. Prestia
INT: J. Grant, T. McKenzie, A. Hall, M. Willis

EMG: C. Ah Chee, J. Leslie, B. Matera

IN: R. Davis, D. Prestia, H. Schade, M. Willis
OUT: M. Rischitelli (shoulder), L. Russell (omitted), A. Saad (hip), C. Ah Chee (omitted)