It’s a new-look GIANTS side that will head to GMHBA Stadium on Friday night to take on an experienced Geelong line-up.

The GIANTS have been forced into seven changes due to injury and soreness, after playing the final game of round 20 last Sunday evening and kicking off round 21 as the first game of the weekend.

Ruck Kieren Briggs, defender Jake Stein and midfielder Matt de Boer will return to the line-up for the first time since their nine-day quarantine in Queensland.

They’ll be joined in the side by key forwards Jake Riccardi and Zach Sproule as well as draftee Tanner Bruhn, who came on in the fourth quarter of last week’s game as the medi-sub.

Also into the team is Irishman Callum Brown who is a confirmed starter for his second official match. Brown was the medi-sub in round 11, receiving his first AFL jumper but not taking to the field against the Lions.

Out of the team are Jacob Hopper and Phil Davis, who were automatically ruled out after the pair suffered concussions in the loss to the Power.

Tom Green suffered a low-grade hamstring strain in the same game while both Sam Reid and Daniel Lloyd failed to recover from respective ankle injuries also suffered against the Power.

Shane Mumford has been managed after playing the last two games in a row - and 11 for the season - while Jesse Hogan is also out with soreness, coming off a five-day break and playing five games in a row at AFL and VFL level.

The GIANTS and Cats will meet for the first time since round one, 2020 and play to a closed Stadium with crowds banned across all Victorian matches this weekend.

Live coverage will begin from 7:30pm on 7mate across the country and on Fox Footy and Kayo with the match beginning at 7:50pm.