GWS coach Adam Kingsley concedes his team still has some digging to do on the injury front, and he's not exactly sure when star defender Sam Taylor will be able to return.
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The Giants were dealt a huge blow when it was confirmed vice-captain Josh Kelly will miss four to five weeks with a calf injury.
It's the opposite calf to the one he injured earlier this season, which ruled him out for four weeks.
Kelly's double setback this year has Kingsley pondering whether there is more to be done to fix the club's soft-tissue problems that had surfaced in the past.
"We've certainly done a lot of work on it, and I felt like we've been over the hump," Kingsley told reporters on Thursday.
"But Kelly again hurting his calf - maybe we haven't quite solved the problems in that space.
"So we continue to dig, try to work out why and adjust our program accordingly."
Taylor is listed as four weeks away from returning after a ruptured testicle, but Kingsley said that timeline could change.
"It's hard to really know, he's just started running," Kingsley said.
"It will be dependent upon how he reacts to the run, and then can we progress him to the next stage, which is faster running and maybe joining in at training.
"So I can't really give a (number of) weeks prognosis on that. It's more we just have to wait and see how he progresses.
"Hopefully it is four or shorter, but there's a chance it could be longer."
Former No.1 pick Aaron Cadman, small forward Darcy Jones and James Peatling have all been recalled for Saturday night's home clash with second-placed Carlton at Engie Stadium.
Forward Callum Brown and Max Gruzewski were dropped.
After starting their season with five straight wins, GWS have lost seven of their past 10 matches to slide to 10th on the ladder with an 8-7 record.
Kingsley doesn't think the game against Carlton represents a make-or-break moment for his team's premiership hopes.
But he also highlighted the importance of the Giants regaining the free-flowing form they displayed earlier this year, rather than focusing on finals or the flag.
"I'm more focused on re-establishing our brand, as opposed to trying to make finals or win premierships at this point in time," Kingsley said.
Australian Associated Press
