The GIANTS will be strengthened by the return of several big names when they play Essendon in the first Friday night game at Spotless Stadium.

Ruckman Shane Mumford, Vice-Captain Heath Shaw and young stars Adam Treloar and Devon Smith will all play their first NAB Challenge games for the season.

Rhys Palmer and James Stewart have both overcome minor injuries to take their spots in the forward line for their first games of the year as well.

They’ll line up alongside recently re-signed star forward Jeremy Cameron and 19-year old Cam McCarthy who kicked three goals in the final quarter of last week’s game after starting as the substitute.

Second-year PM Capital GIANTS Academy graduate Jake Barrett, who is yet to make his AFL debut, will also line up for the first time in 2015.

Coach Leon Cameron said he’s looking forward to taking on the Bombers in the GIANTS first ever Friday night match.

“I was really impressed with how the guys went against the Gold Coast Suns last week and we’ll look to step that up again this week,” said Cameron.

“It’s fantastic to welcome back experience pair Shane Mumford and Heath Shaw who brought so much to the team last year, as well as Devon Smith and Adam Treloar who’ve both had great pre-seasons.

“I hope to see plenty of GIANTS fans come along for our first ever Friday night game and to farewell Kevin Sheedy who’s been so important in setting up our club.” he said.

Callan Ward, Ryan Griffen, Joel Patfull, Dylan Shiel and Josh Kelly have been left out of the squad after they all played in the GIANTS’ 36-point win over the Suns at Blacktown in the first NAB Challenge.

The game will be played at Spotless Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park at 7.10pm on Friday with FREE entry for all GIANTS members with game access passes. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster and start from just $18 for an adult and $4 for a junior.

Travelling by trains to Sydney Olympic Park is FREE with your match ticket or membership card and trains depart Lidcombe station every 10 minutes until midnight.

The 29-man squad will be cut to 26 with the final team and substitutes to be named prior to the game on Friday. There will be six players on the bench and two starting substitutes with unlimited interchanges during the match.

GWS GIANTS v Essendon
Friday March 13, 7.10pm
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

GWS GIANTS squad

1. Phil Davis
2. Curtly Hampton
3. Stephen Coniglio
4. Toby Greene
6. Lachie Whitfield
7. Rhys Palmer
10. Devon Smith
11. Jed Lamb
14. Tomas Bugg
15. Tim Golds
16. Nathan Wilson
17. Adam Treloar
18. Jeremy Cameron
20. Adam Tomlinson
21. Matt Buntine
23. Heath Shaw
25. Cam McCarthy
26. Jarrod Pickett
27. Andrew Phillips
29. Zac Williams
33. Will Hoskin-Elliott
35. Aidan Corr
36. James Stewart
37. Rory Lobb
38. Jack Steele
40. Adam Kennedy
41. Shane Mumford
43. Jake Barrett
44. Tom Downie