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AAP
AAP
Joanna Guelas

Giants to heed Blues lesson in finals-shaping clash

The Giants will be desperate to secure a home final with a victory this weekend. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

If GWS expect an easy win over St Kilda, Giants star Tom Green reckons they'd be kidding themselves.

The Giants only need to flick to last year in the history books to be reminded of how easily Ross Lyon's Saints can upset the finals order.

It was round 24, 2024 and Carlton needed to beat St Kilda to seal their top-eight spot.

Instead, Jack Higgins' last-gasp goal fired the Saints to an upset two-point win that opened the door for Fremantle, who were playing in the last game of the home-and-away season.

The Dockers ultimately lost to Port Adelaide but it remains a cautionary tale as 12th-placed St Kilda seek to play finals spoilers at Engie Stadium on Sunday, when GWS look to secure a home elimination final.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera looms as a potent threat. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Now boasting the signature of in-demand talent Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Lyon's side are gunning for a fifth straight win.

The Giants, one of four teams that started the final round on 60 points, can finish as high as fifth or as low as eighth, depending on how results fall.

If that wasn't enough motivation, Giants academy product and defender Harry Himmelberg will also mark his 200-game milestone.

"If we think we're going to roll in and just get a result, I think we'd be kidding ourselves," Giants midfielder Green told AAP.

"There's a lot to play for. We won't be taking the game lightly."

Harry Himmelberg
Harry Himmelberg was drafted by the Giants in 2015. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS)

Curbing Wanganeen-Milera's impact on the game will be No.1 on the agenda for the Giants.

The 22-year-old has had a devastating effect on opponents since being moved from half-back into the midfield this year.

Deploying Toby Bedford as a tagger is a lever GWS coach Adam Kingsley could pull, though the midfielder-forward hasn't been used recently in that role.

If it were up to Green, it wouldn't be him either.

"He's (Wanganeen-Milera) probably too quick for me," Green joked.

"He's playing a little bit of everywhere and has a bit of a license to go and influence the game in all parts of the ground. 

"He will be a tough prospect to stop and if we can go some way to dealing with him, I'm sure that'll help us get close to a good result."

GWS are unchanged for Sunday's clash after initial hopes of defender Jack Buckley (calf) playing his first game since round 20.

Lethal small forward Brent Daniels, absent since round 14, will make his return from an adductor injury through the VFL.

St Kilda made one change, with last week's debutant Alex Dodson making way for Isaac Keeler.

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