LACHIE Whitfield will start on the wing when he makes his Greater Western Sydney debut on Saturday afternoon, and the no.1 draft pick isn't lacking confidence when asked who he would like to line up against.

"I'd like to say (Lewis) Jetta, I think that'd be pretty interesting," Whitfield said of the Swans' lightning quick young star.

"But I think (Dan) Hannebery or (Jarrad) McVeigh could start on the wing, so a mixture.

"I don't think many people can (keep up with Jetta), but I'd give it a crack.

"Maybe just corral him on the boundary."

Whitfield is one of three GWS debutants for the match, with no.3 draft pick Lachie Plowman and former Hawk Stephen Gilham also named in the side.

Gilham is hoping to provide a calming influence for his young teammates.

A premiership winner with Hawthorn back in 2008, Gilham brings some badly needed experience to the Giants' defence and will play his 100th career game against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.

GWS conceded 125 points per game in a tough initiation into the AFL last year and Gilham's presence alongside Phil Davis and Tim Mohr should make them a tougher proposition in 2013.

"I just want to bring some experience," Gilham said on Friday.?

"There's going to be some nerves and some big moments in the game. I just want to help keep the guys calm and collected.

"If we can do that and stick to what we have to do then we stand a good chance of being able to curtail some of their forwards."
 
Plowman has impressed since the Calder Cannons product moved to Sydney and the tall defender will also help solidify the Giants' backline.

Gilham, who is living with Plowman and the second pick in the draft, Jono O'Rourke, has been impressed by the young defender.

"I mentioned to him before, 'Did you think you'd be playing round one?' and he said he was so nervous the first day, he had no idea he'd be playing round one," Gilham recalled.

"But he's had a tremendous pre-season. I don't think he's missed a session and gives himself a really good chance of playing a lot of this year hopefully."

While Gilham is adjusting to an unfamiliar environment, he does at least have some friendly faces alongside him, having played with GWS teammates Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan at Port Adelaide.

He also worked with GWS senior assistant coach Leon Cameron during his time at the Hawks.

The 28-year-old Gilham has gone from a premiership contender to the AFL's newest side and concedes he has had to alter his approach.

"Naturally you have to adjust your mindset about what you want out of the year and also each game," he said.
"It's a lot about improvement, but always as a player your competitive instinct comes out and you never go into a game thinking you're not going to win.

"We've definitely prepared as though we're going to meet the Swans head on and see how far we've come and set up for a really good year."
 
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD