Midfielder Stephen Coniglio and defender Nick Haynes are set to return from injury against St Kilda at Spotless Stadium as the GIANTS name their 25-man squad for Sunday’s game.

Coniglio suffered a shoulder injury in round 11 while Haynes missed last weekend with groin soreness.

Five players have been added to the team that narrowly lost to Richmond at the MCG last weekend with utility Adam Tomlinson also a chance to return from injury.

Tomlinson has been sidelined since round two with a toe injury and has been named on an extended interchange alongside Josh Kelly and Jed Lamb who both starred for the UWS GIANTS last Saturday.

Coach Leon Cameron said the GIANTS are set to have a number of proven performers return.

“They’ve trained particularly well, we’ll assess how some of those guys pull up tomorrow and whether we think they can go into an AFL game on Sunday,” Cameron said.

“Coniglio’s first half of the year has been particularly pleasing. He’s been out for a couple of weeks but he’s ready to go.”

Young defender Caleb Marchbank and forward James Stewart have been omitted.

The final team of 22 players will be named on gwsgiants.com.au at 5pm on Friday.

The GIANTS take on St Kilda for the second time this year after a close nine-point win over the Saints in the season opener at Etihad Stadium in April.

“St Kilda’s form has been fantastic. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us, we look forward to it,” Cameron said.

“We have to back up our performance against Richmond. We come up against a really good, in-form team that tackles really well, moves the ball well, defends well and obviously score well.”

The GIANTS will return home to Spotless Stadium fro the fifth time this year, a venue the Saints have never played at.

“We’ve won three out of four at our home ground, we like playing there so we’ve got to make sure all of our GIANTS supporters are out there supporting us,” Cameron said.

“There’s no doubt that helps us when they’re making a lot of noise.”

In NEAFL team news, forward Jon Patton will line up for the UWS GIANTS in the curtain-raiser to Sunday’s main game as he makes his return from a second knee reconstruction.

The GIANTS reserves take on Aspley at 9.30am at Spotless Stadium on Sunday.

“Jon will play the back half of the game, probably the last 45 minutes,” Cameron said.

“There’s going to be some butterflies and some nerves for him to return this week but it’s over 11 months since he’s had the operation and his rehab has been done to perfection.

“We’re looking forward to a safe return and him getting out and playing footy again so hopefully GIANTS supporters get out there early and watch Jon in his return match.”

The GIANTS take on St Kilda in a Celebration of Western Sydney match at Spotless Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday with kids under-15 free. Click here to get your tickets now.

GWS GIANTS v St Kilda
Sunday July 12, 1.10pm
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

GWS GIANTS

FB: Matt Buntine, Aidan Corr, Curtly Hampton
HB: Tom Scully, Nick Haynes, Heath Shaw
C: Zac Williams, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Ryan Griffen, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene
FF: Devon Smith, Cam McCarthy, Adam Treloar
RR: Tom Downie, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel

Interchange (from): Josh Kelly, Jed Lamb, Jack Steele, Rory Lobb, Adam Tomlinson, Adam Kennedy, Rhys Palmer

In: Stephen Coniglio, Nick Haynes, Adam Tomlinson, Josh Kelly, Jed Lamb
Out: James Stewart, Caleb Marchbank (omitted)

The final team will be named on gwsgiants.com.au at 5pm on Friday