2023 draftees Phoenix Gothard and James Leake are two untried GWS youngsters who are firming for Opening Round debuts against Collingwood on March 9 amid a truckload of players unavailable.
Amid the five who were suspended for their participation in the controversial end-of-season 'Wacky Wednesday' saga, star midfielder Tom Green has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a calf issue.
Forward Callum Brown is also in doubt as he nurses a hamstring injury, leaving coach Adam Kingsley to consider some younger options.
Gothard and Leake were drafted from the 2023 intake in the first round but were unable to get the nod from Kingsley, facing bouts of illness and injury before impressing in the back half of last year.
SEE MORE: The players at your AFL club who are set to miss the start of the 2025 season
Gothard poses as a dangerous small forward and was deemed as one of the more athletic players in his draft class, displaying high levels of skill in a pressure-based game.
Leake, who stands at 188cm, can be deployed across all three lines but could be used across halfback and the wing after Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming vacated the positions.
"We're preparing for Opening Round," GWS GM of Football Jason McCartney said on RSN.
"There's a great blend of strong experience and some really good young players. Us being up here, it's a bit of out of sight, out of mind.
"From last year, Phoenix Gothard and James Leake didn't debut last year, through illness and injury but we expect them to be around the mark.
"Harry Rowston's had a strong pre-season and our draft picks from this year have come in (and impressed).
"Cody Angove is around the mark and will be interesting to see how he goes for an Opening Round debut as well as Ollie Hannaford.
"There's pressure for spots."
The Giants face Collingwood at Engie Stadium on Sunday, March 9 to start their 2025 campaign.
