Steve Johnson hasn't lost his sense of theatre, with the veteran opting out of the GIANTS’ warm up on Wednesday morning at Spotless Stadium until the session was closed to the media. 

Johnson's lingering knee concern is preliminary finals week's biggest injury story, but his availability for Saturday's clash with Richmond at the MCG remains a mystery.

The 34-year-old has trained behind closed doors since the GIANTS’ 67-point thumping of West Coast last week, as has been his normal routine all season, but as the rest of the squad took to the track, Johnson stayed boundary-side for a conversation with coach Leon Cameron. 

Speaking before the session, Cameron said Johnson would train for around 50 per cent of the club's main session, and that would determine if the veteran would be right to face the Tigers. 

"If he struggles then we're probably on the back foot a little bit, but he's screened pretty well (so far this week)," Cameron said.

"I don't think (the selection decision) is just about myself, it's about Steve and myself being honest with each other. 

"I know it's a huge game and it's do or die, but equally you don't want a player running around that is too injured to perform at his best. 

"He's old enough to say 'I'm feeling pretty good' or 'I'm struggling a little bit'."

Johnson's knee won't be the only talking point when the GIANTS selection committee sits down to pick a 22 to face Richmond, with small forward Devon Smith seemingly over his own knee injury and ready to play if required.

Smith has missed both of the GIANTS’ finals this season with the problem but ran strongly during the team's warm up, placing even more pressure on Johnson's spot in the side.

"He trained pretty well last week, we've had him on a running program and over the last two or three weeks, there's no doubt he's improved dramatically," Cameron said of Smith.

"He's probably gone from 80 per cent fit to around 90 or 95 per cent, so he's got some miles into his legs while he's been doing that and that’s the pleasing thing. 

"He'll definitely be putting his hand up to play this weekend."

In further good news for the GIANTS, vice-captain Stephen Coniglio (illness) and athletic defender Nick Haynes (knee) also trained without issue and are certain to play their second consecutive preliminary final.