Greater Western Sydney Head Coach Kevin Sheedy says he hopes his players can embrace the emotion surrounding the round two match against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Both clubs will wear black arm bands and hold a minutes silence pre-match in memory of former Collingwood and Port Adelaide player John McCarthy who lost his life last year.

Sheedy says it’s important for a club such as the GIANTS with such a young playing list to take the opportunity to remember a member of the AFL family who’s no longer with us.

“We feel the AFL is a family game and when you lose a player off an AFL list to an unfortunate incident you buy into it because it’s a life and obviously we want to show respect to John McCarthy and his family,” said Sheedy.

“I think it’s a message to our players too, to make sure you look after yourselves when you travel and you need to consider when you’re coaching a very young side like I am at the present time, we have most of our players 20 or under so it’s an awakening.”

Sheedy says he’s prepared the GIANTS for a fired up Power side.

“You don’t know what to expect. I mean there’s not many matches you play that’s celebrating a life of a person and a tribute to a young man. In the 48 years I’ve been involved in the game, this hasn’t happened that often.”

The GIANTS completed a light training run at AAMI Stadium on Friday afternoon ahead of the Saturday night clash.

Kevin Sheedy has named a settled line up for the round two match with just one change, midfielder Rhys Palmer replacing Taylor Adams (hip) in the GIANTS team.

The GIANTS and Power will be playing for the Transfield Services Shield, which the GIANTS currently hold after their victory at Skoda Stadium in Round 19 last season.