FORMER Collingwood swingman Lachlan Keeffe is expected to make his debut for Greater Western Sydney on Friday night as the Giants search for solutions within their injury-hit squad.
The 28-year-old, who played the last of his 40 AFL games in 2014, signed with GWS as a delisted free agent in November and AFL.com.au understands he will make the trip to Geelong.
Key forward Jeremy Cameron (toe) and Brett Deledio (hamstring tightness) were the latest Giants to be ruled out of action this week.
They join the likes of No.1 ruckman Rory Lobb (knee), All Australians Toby Greene (foot) and Josh Kelly (groin), Tom Scully (knee) and Zac Williams (Achilles) on the sidelines.
MATCH PREVIEW: Can Giants bring home the bacon from tough road trip?
Keeffe is averaging 14.3 disposals and four marks in three NEAFL games this season, but has kicked just one goal and recorded zero hit-outs.
The 204cm leviathan has played in defence, ruck and forward throughout his career and could be called upon in any of those positions against the Cats.
GWS football boss Wayne Campbell said after Keeffe's signing last year that he would predominantly be a defensive option who could offer ruck support.
The Giants' four hit-outs last week against Brisbane were the fewest in an AFL game since Champion Data began recording the statistic in 1999.
Keeffe and ex-Collingwood teammate Josh Thomas served two-year suspensions from WADA for testing positive to banned drug clenbuterol in the 2015 pre-season.
Keeffe, unlike Thomas, was unable to break back into the Pies' senior side in 2017, instead kicking 15 goals in 19 VFL matches playing as a ruck-forward.