GWS backline organiser Heath Shaw is closing in on his uncle Tony’s appearance record for their famous AFL clan, but isn’t sure he will get the opportunity to play beyond this season.

Shaw missed the 2018 finals after suffering a knee injury and returns to action in Saturday’s pre-season match against Sydney.

“If I could have done an injury at the right time it was probably around then, because I’ve managed to be able to get my knee right and have my pre-season,” Shaw said.

The 33-year-old defender, who has played 282 senior games – 109 for GWS following 173 for Collingwood – is about to enter his 15th season.

“I’m not planning on this to be my last season, but I’m not naive to the fact that it might be,” Shaw said.

“I think I’ll know towards the end of this year whether it’s going to be my last or not.

“We’ve had some good conversations with Leon (coach Leon Cameron) and we’re just playing it by ear and to be honest I just plan on playing 22, 25 games. That’s all I’m worried about.”

He needs to play 32 more games to surpass the Shaw family record of 313 set by Tony, a former Collingwood captain.

“I won’t get him this year but if I go around next year and I get picked … 314 is the magic number,” Shaw said.

“To be honest I’m just happy to get to round one and then hopefully towards the later part of the year get to 300.”

Shaw suggested if he did retire at the end of this year, it might ease the salary cap pressure on the Giants and give them more money to keep out of contract midfield star Josh Kelly.

He has again enjoyed helping out the Giants AFLW team for a second season, but isn’t inclined to rush into coaching once he stops playing.

“Look at Leon (Cameron), he’s got a lot of grey hair and he’s put on a few kg’s so I don’t know If I want to go down that path straight away,” Shaw said.

“But I love footy and I love being a part of a footy club so maybe a few years down the track I might get into some coaching.”