Co-captain Phil Davis and defender Matt Buntine return to the GIANTS side to face the Cats in Geelong in a timely boost to the team’s defensive stocks.
Davis returns after three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury suffered in the GIANTS win over Fremantle in round seven.
“He was disappointed to go out, he was having a really good season,” said coach Leon Cameron.
“It’s been three weeks, we’re confident he can get straight back into the rhythm.
“He’s got a big task in terms of (Tom) Hawkins and their resting rucks, there’s some really big boys down there so he needs to be on his game from the start.”
Young leader Buntine also returns to the line up after a week off with a concussion suffered in the round 9 clash with the Bulldogs.
“He’s pulled up well today, he rang me and said he’s fine to go,” Cameron said.
“Whether he wears a helmet or not, that will be an individual decision but he explored that at training.
“He’s such a brave player and we love him for it but hopefully less knocks going forward for him.”
Going out of the side are Adam Kennedy and Rhys Palmer. Kennedy suffered a sore shoulder and back late in the clash against Adelaide last weekend while Palmer has a minor toe injury that will keep him out of this week’s game.
Cameron knows it will be a tough test for his side with two weeks on the road and coming into a hostile environment at Simonds Stadium where they’ve played just once before, in 2012.
“Geelong’s probably the hardest road trip, they play the ground particularly well and there’s no doubt they get really good support down there from the crowd,” Cameron said.
“It’s going to be a huge task for us, we have to be absolutely spot on to take it to Geelong.
“We know they’re going to be disappointed with their last couple of weeks so it’s a challenge for us.
“We were also disappointed with our last week against Adelaide so it will be two top-eight sides going toe-to-toe on Saturday afternoon.”
The GIANTS take on Geelong on Saturday afternoon at 4.35pm at Simonds Stadium in Geelong, live across Australia on Fox Footy and on 7mate in NSW and ACT
GWS GIANTS
FB: Phil Davis, Nick Haynes, Lachie Whitfield
HB: Nathan Wilson, Joel Patfull, Heath Shaw
C: Adam Tomlinson, Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly
HF: Steve Johnson, Jonathon Patton, Stephen Coniglio
FF: Jeremy Cameron, Rory Lobb, Callan Ward
RR: Shane Mumford, Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel
Interchange: Jack Steele, Matt Buntine, Zac Williams, Toby Greene
In: Phil Davis, Matt Buntine
Out: Adam Kennedy (shoulder/back), Rhys Palmer (toe)
