Geelong midfielder Allen Christensen admits he’s a “bit nervous” about taking on Gold Coast’s deep midfield group ahead of his return to the AFL on Saturday.

Christensen has been dogged by injuries both at the end of 2013 and throughout this year, with hip and back problems consigning him to plenty of work with the Cats’ rehab group.

With just two games in the VFL under his belt, the 23-year-old knows he will be fully-tested by the GC SUNS’ hard-running mids.

“Bit nervous about that. Haven’t played at this level for a while. I think they’ll test out the tank a bit,” Christensen told Cats TV.

“They’re a really, really good, young midfield, led by Gaz (Ablett).

“We’ll go head-to-head with them and put in the structures we have to do, but we won’t be taking a backward step and I don’t think we ever have, so we should be right.”

Christensen will be joined in the Cats line-up by former SUN Josh Caddy, who has also returned from injury in the VFL.

While the former said it will be a massive step up to senior level, he believed the runs in the twos have him well prepared.

“Just having that touch again and being out there with the boys just makes me feel really good and confident going in to this game. I think I’ve got a good base,” Christensen said.

“I’m pretty excited. Been a long road to get to this stage but I’m ready to go.”

Geelong forward Shane Kersten will make his debut after kicking six goals in the VFL last week against Coburg, while veterans Steve Johnson, Jared Rivers and Hamish McIntosh have also come in to the team that destroyed St Kilda last week.