The GIANTS could be set to re-gain several key players following next weekend’s bye but coach Leon Cameron is only focusing on preparing his players to "go the distance" when the GIANTS face the Brisbane Lions in a fortnight’s time.

The GIANTS would have returned to the top of the ladder with a win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, but fell behind Adelaide after a one-point loss. 

The GIANTS trailed the Blues at every change and were behind for nearly all of the second half.

Nonetheless, the GIANTS dominated the clearances (41-23), inside 50s (55-41) and tackles (69-55). They also had some golden opportunities late in the last quarter to snatch the four points, but blew them, with Toby Greene uncharacteristically finishing 0.5 in front of goal and botching an attempted inside 50 pass to Heath Shaw in the dying minutes.

GIANTS coach Leon Cameron told reporters after the game his team's 9-3 record after 12 rounds was one he could "take any day" given the evenness of the 2017 competition.

But Cameron said the GIANTS had issues that would have to be addressed over their bye next week if they were to go deep into the finals again.

"People say we'll get players back after the bye and we might get (Nick) Haynes back and we might get (Rory) Lobb back and (Jacob) Hopper might put his hand up, (Will) Setterfield might put his hand up soon," Cameron said.

"But that's irrelevant to me, it's absolutely irrelevant, because the 22 that roll out each week should play with a certain amount of energy to be in the game.

"Now you could argue we were in the game because we only lost by one point, but there are not enough players who are going the distance at our footy club at the moment and if they don't want to go the distance then what's going to happen is they'll be replaced.

"I think in this competition as even as it is it's going to be the side that wants to go the distance more than the side beside you. And right now, if you put a percentage on it, we're only going the distance 70-75 per cent (of the time), so we need to find that little bit extra per cent to see if we do want to go the distance or we're not going to be a part of some real deep action at the end of the year."

Cameron was confident Phil Davis would be fit to take on the Lions after the GIANTS co-captain injured his left ankle in the first quarter against the Blues but bravely played out the game despite obvious discomfort.

"He rolled his ankle early. He's had an interesting six weeks, (with) his shoulder and his ankle and his heel. He can't get going," Cameron said.

"Over the last few weeks he's probably trained a bit better, but there's always something happening (to him), it's just one of those things. Something's happening (to him) in a game every week. 

"He'll be fine, he'll be OK, but (he) just needs some continuity with his body so he can start the game minute one and finish minute 120 and he hasn't got an ankle or a shoulder injury.

"He's a brave player, he always puts his body on the line and no doubt that probably hurts him a little bit at the moment."