The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS stepped up their pre-season training campaign with a gruelling session at the Wanda sand dunes in Cronulla this morning.

GIANTS players took part in sand sprints, wrestling drills and were blindfolded as part of a teamwork exercise.

Vice-Captain Tom Scully said the aim of the session was to highlight the importance of mental toughness.

“We put a big emphasis on getting through whatever was served up and I think we did that really well,” Scully said.

“It was a great team building exercise and we can take a lot of confidence out of today.”

GIANTS Head Coach Leon Cameron said the club had stepped up their competitive training as it prepares to head into the 2015 season.

“We’re starting to play a lot of match practice during the week and on top of that we’ve added a tough, grinding session on a Saturday morning just to mentally test them,” Cameron said.

“It’s fantastic to come down here once a year and the boys had a really good session."

The GIANTS will play their first NAB Challenge match against the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown International Sportspark on March 7.