GIANTS coach Leon Cameron has backed the depth of his squad to cover the potential loss of three more players to injury in Saturday night's win over Adelaide.
Fresh off losing five players from its round 20 team, star midfielder Josh Kelly was knocked out in a tackle by Crows captain Taylor Walker, and Match Review Officer Michael Christian is sure to look at the third-quarter incident.
Kelly was left unconscious and prone on the ground for several minutes after the incident and was pinged for holding the ball by the controlling
MATCH REPORT: GIANTS Hold Off Crows
Cameron said Kelly was feeling worse for wear after the match and would be assessed ahead of next week's Sydney derby clash with the Swans.
"He's a tough cookie 'Chook' (Kelly), there's no doubt he's an outstanding footballer, but he puts his head over the footy every weekend," he said.
"But anyone that comes off concussed is going to feel it a little bit."
Veteran defender Heath Shaw was stretchered from the field with a knee injury and could miss the rest of the season after he was clattered into by teammate Adam Kennedy midway through the final term.
He told Channel Seven after the game that he was hopeful he could get back this year.
"We think the ACL is intact, which we'll take as a positive. I think it's a PCL (injury) so six weeks," he said.
"If we get to the Grand Final and draw it, I might be right for the week after. Could have been worse, but it's not ideal."
Cameron said he's also hopeful that Shaw's left knee won't rule him out for the rest of 2018.
"It might be 4-6 weeks, who knows, but hopefully we get a bit of luck on Monday and it's only one or two," he said.
"He's been fantastic this year, Heath."
The GIANTS also lost Sam Reid with a hamstring issue in the third term and were forced to play without many rotations for most of the second half of their gutsy 14-point win.
"It was extremely difficult on the back of last week," Cameron said.
"It was an outstanding win because our boys are just finding a way when the chips are down, and things aren't going their way.
"I couldn't be more proud of the boys at the moment."
TALKING POINTS: Keeffe and Kennedy Stand Strong
Defenders Adam Kennedy and Lachie Keeffe kept Adelaide stars Eddie Betts and Taylor Walker quiet, while the likes of Harry Himmelberg, Aiden Bonar
"We're going to have to continue to do that if we lose another couple of soldiers, then we've got a massive challenge against the Swans next week," Cameron said.
"We had a couple of guys who were really good in our NEAFL side and they'll put their hand up, and that’s the exciting thing, everyone that is coming in is playing their role."
Daniel Lloyd (six goals and 37 possessions) and Harry Perryman (43 touches) both starred in the reserves on Saturday and lead the list of contenders to come in against Sydney.
