Toby Greene has been a “bull at a gate” for several weeks now, with GWS teammates hoping to see the firebrand forward unleashed on AFL premiership favourites Richmond.
Greene and Brett Deledio, who both haven’t played in almost three months because of injuries, will be put through their paces during a night training session on Wednesday.
If the injured duo pull up well on Thursday morning, Giants coach Leon Cameron will be tempted to rush at least one of the match-winners back for Saturday night’s clash at Spotless Stadium.
“They’re a big chance,” Heath Shaw told AAP.
“Toby is ready to go, he’s like a bull at a gate. He wanted to be out there yesterday.
“He’s ready to roll and we’ve held him back a little bit, just to be extra cautious.”
Greene’s pre-season was derailed by a toe he broke while on holidays in the United States. He played round one but tweaked his hamstring, returned for rounds four and five and has since been sidelined.
The temptation to select Greene, the club’s best and fairest in 2016 who is renowned for kicking clutch goals, will be immense given GWS are still adjusting to the absence of key forwards Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton.
Greene’s lack of match fitness is an obvious concern, although co-captain Callan Ward laughed the small forward has been telling teammates for the better part of two months he is ready to play.
“Toby is the sort of guy that hates missing anything. Whether that’s football or watching the soccer at night,” Ward said.
“I’ve felt sorry for the rehab coaches and physios at times, because he can be pretty hard to hold back. He’s so competitive.
“He probably has an X-factor we’ve missed over the last few months. He’s a a guy who never, ever gives in. He’s a leader, he stands up in big moments.
“He’s ready to go. I’m sure he has been extremely frustrated but around the club he’s been positive … he’s not one to dwell on things and mope around the footy club.”
GWS sit 10th on the ladder after their four-match winning streak came to a halt with an 11-point loss to West Coast in Perth.
“It’s always hard when you hit the lead in the last quarter and lose. It’s disappointing, especially with the position we’re in and the ladder being so close,” Ward said.
“But we can take plenty of positives out of it.”