Greater Western Sydney co-captain Phil Davis is a strong chance to face former side Adelaide on Saturday night after getting through the GIANTS’ main training session on Wednesday.
Davis was in outstanding form in defence before he suffered a minor hamstring strain in the GIANTS’ round seven win over Fremantle in Perth, and has missed the past two matches.
The return of the 25-year-old would be perfect timing ahead of this week's game, with Adelaide's forward line stacked with tall options in skipper Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch, and the list of injured GWS defenders growing rapidly.
Tim Mohr (hamstring) and Matt Buntine (concussion) both went down in last week's 25-point win over the Western Bulldogs, joining Davis, Caleb Marchbank (ankle) and Aidan Corr (ankle) in the medical room, with Mohr out for 5-6 weeks and Buntine extremely unlikely to play this week.
GWS coach Leon Cameron said Davis would be monitored closely before the side is picked on Thursday.
"He's putting his hand up, but we'll work through that and see how he pulls up," he said.
"If there's absolutely any risks with him then we're not going to take it.
"Right now you'd have to say he's a better chance to play than not.
"If he's 100 per cent right then we'll pick him, but we're talking about some quality forwards that he's going to be up against, so we don't want to take a player in if he's 80 per cent (fit)."
While the GIANTS are running low on key defenders, they're having no such issues through the midfield, with Zac Williams the latest young player to hit form through the middle of the ground.
The 21-year-old played the best footy of his short career in the second half of 2015 as a defender, but after being forced to start this year in the NEAFL, Williams has worked his way back into Cameron's side.
A back injury for veteran Ryan Griffen handed Williams a chance to change his role, and he's responded brilliantly by gathering 58 possessions over the past fortnight.
"Over the past couple of years I've been trying to nail that half-back spot, but I think I've got that down pat now," Williams said.
"'Shawry' (Heath Shaw) and Phil Davis have helped me along the way to nail that spot, but it was really good to get my opportunity in the midfield, and I just took it with both hands."
One of five Indigenous players at GWS, along with Wilson, Jarrod Pickett, Jeremy Finlayson and Paul Ahern, Williams said that Hawthorn and Port Adelaide premiership star Shaun Burgoyne and North Melbourne gun Daniel Wells were his heroes growing up.
The GIANTS’ academy recruit from Narrandera in the Riverina area who came off the rookie list – another player overlooked by the rest of the competition – said this week's Sir Doug Nicholls round was a special time to be part of the AFL.
"It's really important for Indigenous people to get the recognition," he said.
"Not just for Indigenous people to get around it, but the whole competition."
