The GIANTS face an in-form Richmond in the club’s only game at the MCG this season on Sunday afternoon, with the Tigers having won four of their last five games since the bye.
Power forward Jack Riewoldt spoke on AFL360 on Tuesday night about the last time these two sides met back in round nine and looked ahead to Sunday’s clash.
“It’s going to be a cracking game of footy, two sides in the eight who are trying to cement their spot in the four or the eight,” he said.
“It’s going to be a really good game and obviously, we showed we could take it to them for three and a half quarters last time at Spotless Stadium.
“I still think they’re the best side in the competition on their day and it’s going to take our very best to take it up to them.”
There were nervous times for the team from Punt Road earlier in the week when their best player came under the microscope from the match review panel for two separate incidents.
It was all good news for the yellow and black though, with Dustin Martin copping two fines - one for rough conduct and one for unreasonable and unnecessary contact with an open hand to the face - and free to take on the GIANTS.
Brisbane employed a negating player on one of the Brownlow favourites but it didn’t work in their favour as they went on to lose by 31 points with tagger Nick Robertson also suspended for one week after headbutting Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin.
The Tigers are almost all-clear on the injury front with draftee Jack Graham the only fresh injury for the Tigers after spraining his ankle in the VFL.
They’ve been boosted by the return from injury of Ben Griffiths and Ben Lennon but still have some quality on the sidelines, missing Bachar Houli (suspension), Shaun Hampson (back) and Reece Conca (foot).
A familiar face could line up against the GIANTS this week with inaugural zone selection Anthony Miles returning to the Tigers’ best 22 against Brisbane last weekend.
The Albury product joined the GIANTS in 2010 and managed 10 games for the club before heading south to Melbourne at the end of 2013.
After finishing sixth (2016) and fourth (2015) in the best and fairest in the past two seasons and playing all but three games between 2015-16, Miles has played just three games so far this season.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was pleased with Miles' contribution against the Lions and the clearance specialist should be given a chance to back up his impressive return against his old side.
"I was really pleased for him. He's a super kid and I'm glad he's playing some good football," Hardwick said after the Tigers' win on Sunday.
"He'll continue to put his best foot forward and continue to help us get to where we need to go.”
The GIANTS take on the Tigers in their only regular-season game at the MCG this Sunday, July 23 at 1.10pm with live coverage on 7mate in NSW and the ACT and Fox Footy all around Australia.
