JOEL Patfull's wretched run of injuries has continued, with the Greater Western Sydney defender placed in a moon boot until Christmas with a bruised heel.
 
The move is more precautionary than anything, with the 31-year-old expected to be in the boot for two weeks and ready to resume training in the New Year.
 
Patfull, hobbled in the boot and on crutches at the Giants' pre-season training camp in Noosa, has had a six-month stretch he would rather forget.
 
Before this latest setback, he suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in round 11 against Collingwood last season, forcing him to miss four games, before breaking his collarbone in an off-season motorcycle accident in Bali.
 
Patfull had missed just nine games since his 2006 debut with the Brisbane Lions prior to joining the Giants.
 
GWS coach Leon Cameron said the Giants expected it to be only a minor setback.
 
"It's a bit unknown because there's some stress in the heel and you don't want to push it so it turns into a real long injury," Cameron said.
 
"We know he gathers fitness really quickly, so we're not concerned about that.
 
"He was going along really well after his collarbone (injury), but he's just had a wretched run the last few months, but we're hoping he starts running on January 4 (when the Giants return from Christmas break).
 
"Everything going well and with no setbacks, I can clearly see him being right for NAB Challenge."
 
Fellow defender Nick Haynes is a little further back in his recovery from adductor tendinopathy, but Cameron said he would be in full training by the end of January and also expected him to play a role in the pre-season competition.