Former Australian junior basketballer Tom Downie will make his AFL debut this Sunday when the GIANTS play Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.

Downie, who stands at 203cm tall, represented Australia at the 2010 FIBA U17 Basketball World Championships in Germany before being selected by the GIANTS with pick 56 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft.

The 20-year-old from Benalla in country Victoria comes into the side after some impressive form for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL and is the sixth GIANTS player to debut this season.

Defender Sam Darley has also been recalled to the side with Nathan Wilson and Dom Tyson named on an extended interchange bench while midfielder Dylan Shiel has been omitted.

GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy says Downie’s journey to AFL football is a remarkable story.

“He’s a kid that’s come out of the country, has played for the national basketball team and played very little football as a kid before coming to the GIANTS,” said Sheedy.

“He’s really started to move through the ranks with his performances for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL and has played very well in the last month in particular.

“He’s a very mobile ruckman who’s getting more confident every time he plays the game and as he continues to develop I think he’ll become a terrific player for the GIANTS.

“He’s going to be up against one of the all time great ruckmen in Aaron Sandilands as well as a young kid Zac Clarke so he’s got his work cut out, and it’s an exciting prospect.

"It’s going to be a big challenge for our side travelling to Perth to take on a top team like Fremantle who’ve been in terrific form, but we’re coming off a win ourselves so we’ll be throwing everything at this one,” he said.

GIANTS co-captain Phil Davis will play his 50th AFL match on Sunday when he leads out the GIANTS against the Dockers. The 22-year-old played 18 games for Adelaide before joining the GIANTS for the 2012 season where he's played another 31 matches.

To see Kevin Sheedy's thoughts on the match, click here.