Fully recovered from his latest unusual ailment, Greater Western Sydney ruckman Shane Mumford is ready to help the GIANTS regain some momentum when they meet an under-fire Richmond on Saturday.
On a day coach Leon Cameron admitted Toby Greene has to earn back the respect of his teammates before he plays again, GWS will be boosted by some big inclusions to face the Tigers at Spotless Stadium.
Mumford has been sidelined since round three, initially following surgery on an infection in his knee before he picked up a clot from the catheter used to administer antibiotics.
Doctors still don't know what caused his knee to swell and led to immediate surgery, ruling him out of the round four clash with the Western Bulldogs, before the issue with his arm then further delayed his return.
It adds to an extremely rare infection he sustained while with the Sydney Swans in 2012 stemming from a cortisone injection in his back, an ongoing issue which also took some time to diagnose.
A fractured cheekbone and a number of knee issues have also troubled the 27-year-old, who had started his first season as a GIANT in scintillating form.
"I seem to be able to get the stupid injuries that no one else has ever heard of," Mumford said on Wednesday.
"It just goes with the personality, I'm a bit weird on and off the field.
"Hopefully this will be the end of it, and I'm looking forward to building for the second half of the year and having a few more wins."
The GIANTS have lost five straight games after a promising 2-1 start, including a 111-point hammering at the hands of West Coast in round eight.
Richmond will be equally desperate for a victory after plummeting to 16th on the ladder with a 2-6 record, a dramatic fall after the Tigers were tipped by some to challenge the top four after playing finals in 2013.
Another loss would virtually end Richmond's season, but Cameron is very wary of a Tigers outfit that will celebrate Brett Deledio's 200th game at Spotless Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park.
"They're obviously a very, very good side," Cameron said.
"They'd prefer to be more wins than losses at the moment, but I'm not here to comment on them.
"They're going to come out really hard; one of their favourite sons is playing their 200th game.
"But we can't worry about them. We have to worry about what we can control."
Many will feel GWS is capable of springing an upset, particularly as the GIANTS expect to welcome back Mumford, Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar and Curtly Hampton from injury.
One GIANT who won't be on display is Greene, who serves the first of a five-game ban for his alcohol-fuelled episode in Melbourne last week.
Cameron says the club has moved on from last week's distraction and expects Greene to now put his head down and train hard.
The 20-year-old, who is facing a raft of assault charges, also won't be a walk-up starter once his ban is over.
"I'd think he'd have to earn the respect back from his teammates," Cameron said.
"Five good weeks of training, it's a good mini pre-season for him (to have him) ready for the back half of the year.
"He's only young and they're going to make mistakes.
"One thing with Toby, he always looks you in the eye. He knows what's happened and he accepts responsibility.
"When you see that from a young kid, you know he's going to be out to show everyone he's done the wrong thing and he's ready to go again."
