A decision on the playing futures of GIANTS veterans Brett Deledio and Shane Mumford is unlikely to be made before the end of the season, but both players believe they're capable of playing on beyond 2019.
Deledio, 32, has played just 26 games in three seasons at the GIANTS because of achilles, calf and hamstring injuries, but has shown he's a valuable member of the GIANTS team when fully fit.
The dual Richmond club champion and two-time All Australian has played the past six games, a feat he's only managed once before since he arrived at the club, and averaged 19 possessions playing across half forward and on the wing.
After returning from retirement after a serious foot injury forced him to give the game away at the end of 2017, Mumford, who turns 33 on Friday, has exceeded expectations and played 11 of a possible 14 games this season.
The pair is out of contract at the end of the year and said on Thursday they won't be making a call on whether their career continues just yet but will be in constant discussions with GIANTS coach Leon Cameron and football manager and Deledio's former Tigers teammate Wayne Campbell.
"I've been giving it serious thought since the beginning of the year; I've always wanted to play for as long as I can, because you're a long time not playing, as my old man has always told me," Deledio said.
"I'm not ready to give it up just yet, as hard as it is, I still love every day that I get to come out here and do what I do.
"My body has been my biggest issue and if that holds up, I think I'm more than capable mentally to get the job done.
"If I get the opportunity and Leon and Wayne think I can go around again then I'm more than happy too.
"But if they go in a different path then so be it, they're the cards I've been dealt.
"I'm constantly talking to Wayne because he's a good mate of mine; he's not just my boss, but it's not something I'm stressed about."
Deledio had to suffer through the ordeal of watching his old team and some of his closest friends win the premiership when Richmond triumphed in 2017, his first year at the GIANTS.
He admitted the lure of experiencing flag success at GIANTS continues to be a major driver for him this year.
"It's the reason you keep getting up and striving (for success) and gets you through those darker moments. It's the final goal that you're looking to achieve," he said.
"I haven't lost sight of that and I've got some great mates that have won one, that tell me how good it is, so I'm hoping to do the exact same thing they have."
Deledio and Mumford are both on modified training programs to ensure they're ready to perform on matchdays and that will continue for the rest of the year.
Mumford's knee and ankle issues mean he's rarely trained during the week for the past few years, and the aggressive ruckman is expected to be rested for a game at some stage in the back half of the season to ensure he's ready and primed for the finals.
"I'm still very up and down: one week I pull up well and other weeks I struggle to walk for most of the week and come good in time for the weekend," he said.
"I've been feeling pretty good considering (the year off), and when I retired I wouldn't have thought there was any chance I could play as many games as I have.
"It's all about finding that balancing act about what I do (to recover) throughout the week.
"The plan is for me to have a rest at some stage but when that is I'm not too sure."
