Toby Greene will be tasked with leading GWS out of their winless and injury-laden slump as the AFL side await an update on captain Stephen Coniglio's setback.
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Coniglio finished Sunday's loss to Melbourne on crutches, unable to put any weight on the ankle he injured while being tackled during the second quarter.
A syndesmosis ankle problem ruined Coniglio's 2017 campaign, with coach Leon Cameron admitting the midfielder's latest injury in Canberra "didn't look good".
Follow-up scans will give GWS a better idea of how long the skipper, key defender Phil Davis (calf) and versatile veteran Matt de Boer (hamstring) are likely to spend on the sidelines after suffering injuries at Manuka Oval.
The Giants were already minus key injured players Lachie Whitfield, Jessie Hogan and Braydon Preuss.
Greene, appointed sole vice-captain for 2021, is set to step up as skipper against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night as GWS seek to turn their season around after a 0-3 start.
"I was really proud of Toby, he just never gives up," Cameron said after the small forward booted five goals in the Giants' 34-point loss to Melbourne.
"That's why we love him.
"Even though things weren't going as well as he wanted, he just keeps on keeping on. That's what you want from your vice-captain.
"With Cogs most likely out, it's a great opportunity to lead our club through these next few weeks."
Greene most recently captained the club in 2020, when Coniglio was dropped.
"I feel for him (Coniglio). He's had a tough 12 months," Cameron said.
"Cogs is emotional. It's an emotional game, you don't like to see your captain down.
"He's captain of our club for a reason. He's a good person and a bloody good player, but luck just hasn't gone his way. He'll bounce back."
Cameron indicated would-be debutants Conor Stone and Ryan Angwin have both recently impressed at training, while fit-again forwards Jessie Hogan and Jake Riccardi are close to a recall.
"For every heartache and disappointment from a game you lose, or you lose players, there's an opportunity," Cameron said.
"There's opportunities galore next Saturday. A lot of our young fellas will put their hand up and our club will move forward.
"We're not here to say, 'woe is me, we've got a fair few injuries'. That's life. You dig in when that happens.
"There's a great opportunity for a lot of lot of kids ... and some of those boys coming back from injuries.
"We'll lick our wounds but equally, we're not going to be despondent from the effort."
Australian Associated Press
