James Kelly knows he will face some game-day nerves as he prepares to meet his old team Geelong on Saturday, but says he doesn't expect a hostile reception from Cats fans. 

Kelly has been important for Essendon since signing as a top-up player in January, adding valuable leadership and experience to a list that was stripped of it when 12 senior players were banned for the season. 

The three-time premiership Cat was managed through the pre-season to be ready for the home and away season and so far has delivered, averaging 28 disposals in the opening three rounds of the year.

But Saturday's Essendon-Geelong 'Country Game' clash at the MCG presents a different challenge as, for the first time, he faces the club he represented in 273 games between 2002-2015.

"I feel fine about it. The build-up has been pretty normal. We're still preparing for another opposition and I'm sure I'll get nervous as the game gets closer, probably immediately at the start of the game," Kelly said on Friday.

"But after that I've played enough now to know it's another game of footy and we're still doing the same things and making the same decisions. I'll go out there and be as professional as I can."

The 32-year-old said he "doesn't buy into" pre-game banter with ex-teammates, and said he had only spoken to friends who he would speak to any week in the lead-up to a game, regardless of the opposition.

He will be one of three former Cats – alongside Mathew Stokes and Mitch Brown – to play for the Bombers.

"It's probably going to be hard at the start of the game, but you don't want to make it harder than it has to be by going over and over it and playing the game in your head before it gets there," Kelly said.

"I always keep an eye on how they're going, and a few guys that I'm close with I watch them a bit closer. But I don't watch a lot of footy anyway so watching a Geelong game is no different."

Kelly was one of a handful of senior players to depart the Cats last year, including now Giant Steve Johnson, as the club regenerated its list. He said didn't expect any ill-feeling from Geelong fans.

"It depends if they're angry with me or not, I don't know," Kelly said.

"I wouldn't expect it to be hostile. I was happy when I left, I didn't leave on bad terms so I would expect I'd just be [treated like] a normal opposition player."

The Bombers dropped fellow top-up Ryan Crowley for this week's meeting with the Cats after a quiet start to the year from the former Docker, but have included speedy pair Jayden Laverde and Conor McKenna.

After the club's stirring win over Melbourne in round two, the Bombers allowed Port Adelaide to skip to a six-goal lead by quarter-time in last week's 61-point defeat at Adelaide Oval.

Kelly said the inconsistency was a function of the Bombers' lack of experience. 

"We've played some good footy in patches and we've obviously got a young group and a unique group. We're working on as much we can in trying to play a consistent brand of footy and build the identity of the football club," he said.