The Sydney Swans and Hawthorn Hawks' are staring down the barrel of a bottom-eight finish but premiership favourites Greater Western Sydney are refusing to write them off just yet.
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The race to the last Saturday in September has blown wide open with the two competition heavyweights drifting out to $21 in the premiership market in the midst of a sudden fall from grace.
But Giants half-forward Sam Reid has backed the two rival clubs to match fire with fire and claw their way back to the top end of the ladder.
The Giants have a chance to put a three-win buffer between themselves and their cross-town rivals when they host Port Adelaide at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
No team has recovered from 0-4 to play finals football since the top eight system was introduced in 1994 - exactly the situation last year's grand finalists Sydney are faced with.
The Hawks could follow suit if they lose to Geelong on Monday, meaning the Giants could be three of steps ahead of the sides many considered their toughest challenge for the title.
"I would not write them off yet. They're two great clubs," Reid said.
"I think it just shows how even [the competition] is really. You can't go into any game thinking you're going to win or dominate, if you drop your guard you'll get flogged.
"That's how you have to go into every game, the competition is fierce and it's good for AFL footy everywhere I suppose."
The Giants could put some serious space between themselves and the Swans with the Power clash followed by a Sydney derby in round five.
But first, Reid is bracing for a "fierce battle" against a hurting Port Adelaide at the venue where his Giants career began five years ago.
The Power are coming off a derby loss of their own against the Adelaide Crows and Reid says the club's recent success in Canberra counts for nothing come Saturday afternoon.
"It's a tough competition, anyone can win on their given day and we know that," Reid said.
"We know Port Adelaide will be disappointed that they lost last week and the way they came out. They're a very proud club as well... She's going to be a fierce contest I think.
"They're really good contested and we've got to live up to that. We're not looking too far ahead, I know it's a cliche but I know I don't look too far ahead, just take it a week at a time."
Reid's career has been a strange one to say the least - retirement, a coaching career and a rookie lifeline all came between his GWS debut in 2012 and his return to Manuka Oval.
But he is "bloody rapt" to be playing top-flight football again and feels like the Giants have turned things around after a rocky welcome to 2017.
The Giants are fast establishing Manuka Oval as a fortress and are itching to get off on the right note before a Friday night blockbuster against the Western Bulldogs in a fortnight.
AFL ROUND FOUR
Saturday: GWS Giants v Port Adelaide Power at Manuka Oval, 4.35pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
