GWS stand-in skipper Toby Greene is set to return from a fractured shoulder in Sunday's AFL clash with North Melbourne, reaping the rewards of his competitive streak and an ideally-timed bye.
Greene has struck career-best form this season, rallying the Giants from an alarming 0-3 start to a 5-6 record that has them in the mix for finals despite a stack of injuries to key personnel.
The star forward will tackle the Kangaroos in Hobart, provided he pulls up well from Thursday's session.
Phil Davis, Matt de Boer, Adam Kennedy and Tom Hutchesson are also on track to return from injuries this weekend, with coach Leon Cameron mulling whether it should be at VFL or AFL level.
The club expected Greene to spend at least a month on the sidelines after hurting his shoulder in a four-point loss to Richmond.
But the 27-year-old, who has been doing contact work for a week, attacked his rehab program with the same spirit in which he hunts the ball.
"He just goes at 100 miles an hour," Cameron said.
"He's had a wonderful year... he has an enormous effect on the front half in terms of his competitiveness and we're a better team when he's in the side than when he's out.
"Having those sorts of competitive players - de Boer is the same, Davis is the same ... they're that driven to play really hard, tough footy.
"That's infectious for any young player that comes into your footy club."
Cameron flagged a reluctance to "bring too many players back all at once" as he weighed up whether to rush all three of Greene, de Boer and Davis straight back into the AFL side.
De Boer and Davis have spent two months on the sidelines because of soft-tissue injuries.
"The bye came at a really good time for us," he said.
"We've got to make sure we get the dynamic right of the team.
"Because we've been rapt with our young fellas progressing through their AFL journey and we've got to make sure we pull that right rein."
Captain Stephen Coniglio (ankle) and key forward Jesse Hogan (calf) are both approximately three weeks away from returning.
Hamstrung young gun Harry Perryman is on track to face Carlton in round 14, while zippy small forward Brent Daniels should be available for the Giants' round-15 clash with Hawthorn.
"It's exciting because it creates lots of pressure for spots and that's exactly what you want," Cameron said.
