Cats veteran defender MATTHEW SCARLETT still hasn't decided when he'll hang up the boots.

The 33-year-old triple premiership player's told Channel Nine he'll make up his mind at the end of the season if he'll want to play on next year.

SCARLO says while the Cats haven't started the year particularly well, he's confident they'll be playing their best footy by the end of the season.

And he says he’ll feel pretty flat if they miss out on the final eight by just one game.

Meantime, the Cats are confident TRAVIS VARCOE will play this season, despite requiring  further surgery on his injured foot.

The 24-year-old will have surgery next week, and is expected to miss another six-weeks.

Image: Matthew Scarlett [Geelong Advertiser]