All-Australian and dual Kevin Sheedy Medal winner Lachie Whitfield and dashing defender Adam Kennedy are confirmed to return for Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Whitfield has missed two matches with an ankle injury while Kennedy missed the last match with illness.

Inaugural co-captain Callan Ward has also been named in the side after clearing the concussion protocols and is set to line up for his 200th game for the GIANTS - the first player at the club to reach the milestone.

Included on an extended interchange are All-Australian defender Nick Haynes, ruckman Braydon Preuss, defender Jake Stein and midfielder Xavier O’Halloran, alongside youngsters Tanner Bruhn, Lachie Ash and Jacob Wehr and key defender Lachlan Keeffe.

Haynes has also missed the past two matches with illness while Preuss was also struck down with illness before being named as an emergency for the last match against the Lions.

Stein has played five matches so far this season with his last match in round six before being the unused medi-sub in round 10.

O’Halloran was the medi-sub in the GIANTS’ last match, replacing Ward after his concussion.

The final four-man interchange and emergencies will be named at 5pm on Friday.

Out of the side are Jarrod Brander and Bobby Hill. Wingman Brander has been omitted while Hill is out of the side after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer and being sidelined indefinitely.

The GIANTS take on the Kangaroos on Sunday at Marvel Stadium at 3:20pm.