GWS Giants sweat on key stars for AFL clash

The Giants are sweating on the fitness of star trio Davis, Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield for their clash with St Kilda at Manuka Oval on Saturday.

Davis missed last weekend's Sydney derby after sustaining an ankle injury in the capital a week prior, while star midfielders Coniglio and Whitfield battled to finish the game.

Coniglio was left in a protective glove after dislocating a finger on his right hand while Whitfield is nursing a heavily corked thigh.

Their potential absences would be a major blow for a Giants outfit already missing the class of co-captain Callan Ward through the middle for the remainder of the season.

However there is no shortage of emerging talent in the club's midfield stocks, and Tim Taranto and Hopper proved as much in a win over the Giants' crosstown rivals.

Taranto and Hopper combined for 63 possessions, 13 clearances and 13 tackles to lay the platform for the club's return to the top four.

"The trust in the playing group [is so strong] we don't care who is out there with us, we've got full faith that anyone can get the job done and play a really good role," Hopper said.

"That's where we're at as a group at the minute, and we're just looking forward to playing again in Canberra.

"It's early in the week so we're waiting to see how those guys pull up for the game. Obviously we'd love to have them out there. We're expecting Phil to be ready to go as well.

"Losing not only our leader but also someone who is as handy a player as Cal Ward [earlier this season], it's a big hole and a big gap to fill. It's somewhere I can really play a part."

Hopper's rise to prominence in the Giants' squad has certainly not gone unnoticed, nor has the work he has done to get to where he is.

The 22-year-old managed just 23 games in his first two seasons due to injury setbacks before he dropped 10 per cent of his body weight late in 2017 during a bout with glandular fever.

But he has found some much-needed consistency over the past two seasons - and with it comes a marked improvement in confidence when he steps onto the field.

"It's pleasing to actually have enjoyed a pre-season and really got stuck in with my body feeling good. I've had some injuries and illnesses and whatnot," Hopper said.

"It's just comforting going into games knowing I've got a good base and good work underneath my belt, I can take confidence out of that.

"It has been pleasing to get a bit more responsibility in the midfield. As a midfield group we really wanted to respond [against Sydney] because we were well beaten against Freo the week before. It was pleasing to come out the way we did and get the result."

They will run into a St Kilda outfit raising plenty of eyebrows around the league following an impressive start that has them sitting inside the top eight.

The Giants had won nine games on the trot in Canberra before running into a rampant Fremantle outfit a fortnight ago.

Hopper says it is time to patch up the damage and rebuild Manuka Oval into a fortress for the premiership contenders.

"We were really disappointed with how we went [last time around in Canberra], so we're really looking to make amends and get back into a winning record in Canberra," Hopper said.

"Anyone can win games of footy at the minute and the Saints are one of the in-form sides in the competition, so it's another challenge for us and we're really looking forward to it."