A key GIANT will face a final fitness test this week while an important defender will return in Saturday’s Sydney Derby XXVIII.

Lachie Ash is set to return for this weekend’s battle of the bridge while Stephen Coniglio will face a fitness test during Thursday’s main training session.

Ash comes to the end of his six-week recovery from a calf injury sustained in round nine, while Coniglio will be pushing for a return following his shoulder injury sustained in the round 11 win over the Cats in Geelong.

GIANTS veteran Adam Kennedy is set to play his first game of football in 14 months, after a hamstring injury delayed his return from an ACL injury sustained in April last year.

Draftee James Leake is also expected to line up in GIANTS colors in the VFL for the first time this weekend, after a run of injuries have delayed his start to his AFL career to date.

Exciting young forward Darcy Jones will also be a test this week to progress to limited minutes in the VFL as he recovers from a significant hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, the GIANTS will be without experienced utility Nick Haynes for the next 3-4 weeks, after scans on Tuesday revealed a hamstring strain suffered in Sunday’s game.

The GIANTS take on the Swans at ENGIE Stadium this Saturday afternoon in the 28^th edition of the Sydney Derby.

Injury List – June 18