AFL Giants stars to return against Carlton

Greater Western Sydney’s big guns Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson are set to return against Carlton.

Ruckman Mumford was rested in last weekend’s scare against cellar-dwellers Essendon with an ankle complaint while forward Johnson has been nursing a foot injury from the Sydney derby win a fortnight ago.

Both moved well on Wednesday, and coach Leon Cameron is hopeful they will be right to play at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.

“Mumford and Johnson trained for the majority of the session so we’ll see how they pull up by the end of the day,” Cameron said.

“Things are looking pretty positive for both of them, but in saying that Mumford trained for half a session last week and pulled up a bit sore.”

Injury-prone co-captain Phil Davis sat out the session but will probably line up against the Blues after being cleared of damage to the toe he hurt in Sunday’s scrappy 27-point win over the Bombers.

Cameron said young defender Adam Kennedy (shoulder) was another near-certain starter.

“We thought he (Kennedy) was going to play last week so we’re really confident he’s going to get up barring him pulling up sore today,” he said.

It leaves Cameron with a selection headache, particularly given Johnson’s replacement Matt Kennedy sparkled on debut with three second-half goals against Essendon to bring the Giants back from the brink.

Cameron said whoever was dropped for Johnson’s return would be unlucky, but warned a number of players’ positions weren’t safe after Sunday’s stagnant first half.

“There were some poor performances on the weekend,” Cameron said.

“There’ll be some consideration (as) to whether those players get picked.

“(But) we deal with all players differently because some have got credits in the bank from previous years and games, and some of these guys played really well the week before against the Swans.

“Maybe we just have to reward some really good form like we did with Matty Kennedy, and we’ve done with Jacob Hopper and Sam Reid.”

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