GREATER Western Sydney has tasted a few appetisers and worked through their entrées, but the Giants will prepare for the main course when they take on Richmond in their final NAB Cup hit-out on Saturday.
Coach Kevin Sheedy has spent the pre-season closely watching his young charges during intra-club matches and in the NAB Cup, with the Giants heavily rotated throughout as he searched for his best 22.
But against the Tigers at Manuka Oval in Canberra, Sheedy has selected his best available team in a dress rehearsal one week out from their opening match against the Sydney Swans.
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Co-captain Luke Power remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, but fellow skippers Callan Ward and Phil Davis, plus Tom Scully, Chad Cornes and James McDonald will all face Richmond.
While last year's No. 1 draft pick Jon Patton is still recovering from knee surgery, Stephen Coniglio, Dom Tyson and Will Hoskin-Elliott - picks two, three and four respectively - have all been named in the squad.
Throw in rugby league convert Israel Folau and stars-in-waiting Jeremy Cameron, Tomas Bugg, Nathan Wilson, Josh Bruce, Adam Tomlinson and Devon Smith and the side that takes the field on Saturday is virtually the same one that will face the Swans.
And Davis is keen to see what they can produce.
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"I think for most teams, round four of the NAB Cup is a dress rehearsal [for the AFL season]," Davis said.
"We'll be pretty much full strength and looking forward to having a really good hit-out.
"We've got Sydney the week after and we need to be ready for a big match that week."
Key defender Davis has been one of the Giants' most consistent throughout the pre-season, but there are a number of teammates who have impressed the former Crow.
Davis singled out Coniglio, Smith, Tyson and Hoskin-Elliott as top pre-season performers, but he reserved special praise for Folau.
"Izzy Folau has just been sensational from where he's come from," Davis said.
"You watch him play every week and he's learning more and more about the game."
Folau is undoubtedly making progress in his new code, but one player who is already tailor-made for senior football is Coniglio.
There were big wraps on the former Swan Districts midfielder after playing senior football in the WAFL during 2011, and he again showed his wares against Hawthorn two weeks ago.
Despite being on the receiving end of a 74-point thrashing, Coniglio managed 25 possessions and was named the Giants' best player.
"Playing senior footy in the WAFL obviously gave me a lot of confidence playing against the older bodies and the quickness of the game," Coniglio said.
"It's obviously a big step up still to AFL level, but if you believe you belong at this level then anyone can play, regardless of size or anything like that."
GWS GIANTS v Richmond Tigers
Saturday March 17
12.30 PM
Manuka Oval
