Four key players face fitness tests while star midfielder Josh Kelly and veteran Brett Deledio are available for selection as the GIANTS get set to take on the Hawks at the MCG.

Kelly will return from a minor groin complaint that kept him out of the round seven win over the Saints while Deledio is cleared to return from a calf injury.

“Josh got through the Captain’s Run and we did some more testing at the end, a bit more explosive running and agility, he just felt it a little bit so we were overly cautious,” GIANTS General Manager of Football Wayne Campbell said.

“He’s fully trained today and he’ll be ready to go against the Hawks on the weekend.

“Brett is available to play. Our NEAFL team have a bye so whether the coaches select him or not in the AFL team against Hawthorn will be determined later in the week but he’s available to play and he and the rehab guys have done a great job.”

Adam Kennedy will need to prove his fitness after suffering a concussion in the second quarter of Saturday’s game but an eight-day break before the Hawks clash should mean the star wingman lines up for his 100th AFL game on Sunday. 

“He seems to be pretty good,” Campbell said. 

"He’s been symptom-free for a couple of days, he needs to get work through the progression over the next couple of days and some non-contact training but at this stage he looks to be available.” 

Lachie Whitfield is also likely to return if he can complete main training on Thursday after missing last week’s match with a hip and quad complaint.

“He ran Sunday and ran today, he’ll train on Thursday so he needs to get through that and at this stage it looks likely but not over the line yet,” Campbell said.

Co-captain Phil Davis is in a similar situation, having missed the last fortnight with an ankle injury.

"It’s lingered around a little bit,” Campbell said.

“We obviously gave him every opportunity before the Sydney game and thought we got close and it was the same again last week; he trained at the Captain’s Run and then did some agility work at the end and didn’t quite feel right. 

"We feel like he’s making progression again so he’ll train fully on Thursday and if he gets through that he’ll be available to play.”

Fellow defender Aidan Corr looks to have escaped serious injury to his ankle but could miss Sunday’s clash. 

“It’s very similar to Phil from a couple of weeks ago,” Campbell said.

"He’s pulled up ok at the start but we’re going to need to know how he progresses. He’s got eight days but at this stage probably looks unlikely. 

“It might be a week or so but we probably don’t quite know at this early stage of the week.” 

The GIANTS take on the Hawks at the MCG on Sunday.