If ever there is a time for a side blessed with such raw talent to fly under the radar, perhaps this is it.
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The GWS Giants will look to go banging on the door of the AFL's top four when they host the Hawthorn Hawks at Manuka Oval in a rare Friday night clash this week.
GWS have fallen just short of a maiden grand final appearance during their surge up the ranks in recent seasons and avenging that heartache looms as no mean feat.
However the impending returns of some of the club's biggest stars is a timely boost which comes just as the majority start to believe the league's top four sides have broken away from the pack.
The club is set to welcome back the AFL's leading goal kicker Jeremy Cameron, All-Australian Josh Kelly and key midfielder Matt de Boer in coming weeks as they wait on Stephen Coniglio.
The long-term loss of Callan Ward aside, their position at this stage of the season seems a far cry from years gone by.
Now the Giants face two sides struggling to keep their heads above water before rounding out their regular season against a side bound for the wooden spoon.
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But star Giant Toby Greene says they will have no issue in finding the desire to be at their best each and every week despite a finals berth already being sewn up.
"It's pretty easy at this time of the year," Greene said.
"It's the business end of the season and a lot of boys are pushing for selection and trying to get a spot in the side.
"There's a few injured players coming back so I'm sure over the next few weeks we'll be right up and about.
"I know over the next couple of weeks we're getting a lot of players back. If we can just be in a good position then there will be some real pressure for spots, which is something we haven't had over the past few weeks.
"We've had a couple of good wins over the past couple of weeks but they've only been just.
"We've still got a bit to work on. It is good to be around the mark and the best thing we can do is just keep winning."
Greene has played seven matches on the trot in the same season for the first time in three years after an injury-plagued run of his own.
The 25-year-old has been injected into the midfield over that stretch and averaged 31 disposals per game.
"It's been good, I was required to play there because we were missing a few boys," Greene said.
"It's been good to have a little run around in there, playing with some boys that have been going really well. It's been enjoyable."
The possible returns of Kelly (calf) and de Boer (shoulder) for the Hawks clash could see Greene shift between the midfield and the forward 50 - and he would relish the chance to spend more time in the latter.
Especially given the Giants are set to welcome back key forward Cameron from a niggling calf complaint for a clash under Friday night lights.
It would seem the reward outweighs the risk of selecting the 26-year-old spearhead with Giants coach Leon Cameron adamant he would not risk the Coleman Medal favourite if he is not fit.
But the league's leading goal kicker is poised to return in his bid to back up a six-goal haul during his last outing in Canberra.
"He'll be back, I'm looking forward to having him back. He's raring to go, he'll be fresh after a week off," Greene said.
"In that Saints game [when he kicked six goals] he was bloody good, he's had a bloody good season. Hopefully he will just continue his form. He's been great.
"He always takes the best defender and he has the ability to work up and down the ground. It's not just inside 50, he does a lot of things for the team that don't go unnoticed either. He's been playing really well."
AFL ROUND 21
Friday: GWS Giants v Hawthorn Hawks at Manuka Oval, 7.50pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.