GWS could be without a trio of key players for their Opening Round bout with reigning premiers Collingwood.
Set to host the Magpies at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday, March 9, the early season start is set to see two senior Giants players miss the club's first game, while a young gun is also in doubt.
Utility Harry Perryman (hamstring) and defender Isaac Cumming (calf) are expected to miss the preliminary final rematch, while former Pick 3 selection Finn Callaghan (shoulder) is in a race against the clock to be cleared to play, per AFL Media's Daniel Garb.
Callaghan is tipped to join Perryman and Cumming in missing the Giants' upcoming pre-season hitouts against Sydney and Gold Coast later this month, with the club hoping to have the 20-year-old fresh in time for their first game of the home and away season.
The ailment is said to have been sustained earlier this week, limiting Callaghan at training and now placing doubt over his Opening Round prospects.
The setback comes ahead of a predicted breakout year for the former Sandringham Dragon, who took his game to new heights during the Giants' thrilling 2023 finals run.
His injury, coupled with Perryman and Cumming's expected absence, could open up as many as three selection changes for coach Adam Kingsley to the side that fell to the Magpies by one-point last September.
Having moved through a quiet off-season of player movement, the Giants are likely to take a similar shape to the side that faced the Magpies in their finals game of last season.
The lack of run that will come with the loss of both Cumming and Callaghan could open up a spot for young defender Josh Fahey or uncapped former first-round pick Darcy Jones, who has impressed his senior teammates this pre-season.
Jones missed almost the entire 2023 season due to an ACL injury sustained in his VFL debut, with the Western Australian hitting the ground running ahead of his sophomore season.
Young utility Jacob Weh could be a chance to fill in the void left by Perryman, with the fringe Giant (fractured scapula) another who spent an extended period of time on the sidelines in Kinglsey's first year at the helm.
James Peatling, Ryan Angwin, Cooper Hamilton and rookie Phoenix Gothard may also be in consideration, while preliminary final tactical sub Xavier O'Halloran is a chance to start.
The Giants are set to face Sydney at Tramway Oval on Thursday before their Community Series clash with Gold Coast in Canberra a week after.
GWS will host Collingwood for the third game of Opening Round on Saturday, March 9 at 7:30pm AEDT.
