SHANE Mumford wants to play on in 2017 and is hoping to start contract talks with Greater Western Sydney soon.

Mumford is in the final season of the three-year deal he signed with GWS upon crossing from the Sydney Swans at the end of 2013.

The premiership ruckman, who turns 30 in July, has made a strong start to 2016 after missing the second half of last season with a serious ankle injury.

Mumford's manager, Anthony McConville, told AFL.com.au he hoped to open negotiations on a new deal with new GWS football manager Wayne Campbell in "the coming weeks".

Mumford tore the deltoid ligament in his left ankle against Collingwood in round 11 last year and missed the rest of the season.

The Giants' 2014 best and fairest winner had a scare in this year's NAB Challenge, when he hurt the same ankle against the Sydney Swans, but scans later revealed it was only minor injury.

Mumford played in GWS's next pre-season game against the Brisbane Lions and has not missed a beat since.

It is understood the Giants are happy to wait a little longer before opening negotiations with Mumford, so they can monitor how his body holds up as the season progresses.

However, GWS views Mumford as a key member of its young side – the Giants were 7-4 when he was injured last year and subsequently won just four more games for the season – and, fitness permitting, want him to play on at Olympic Park beyond 2016.

McConville said Mumford's good form in the opening three rounds would have helped alleviate any concerns the Giants had about his body.

"The impact that Shane's been able to have on his return this year I think would have been reassuring to the club," McConville said.

Mumford might lack the star quality of some of GWS's prized youngsters but few players are more important to Leon Cameron's team.

At 197cm and 107kg, the former Geelong rookie has a physical presence that makes his teammates walk a little taller and keeps his opponents on edge.

His ferocious front-on tackle on Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan in the Giants' round two win seemed to unsettle the Cats and inspire his teammates.

It was one of 18 tackles that Mumford has laid this year, two more than the next best Giant, Ryan Griffen.

"We know he's a physical presence for us, and bit by bit he's getting fitter and fitter," Giants coach Leon Cameron said of Mumford after round two.

"I said to him during the week that I reckon by round three or round four he's going to be absolutely cherry ripe."

Mumford won the Giants' best and fairest award in his first season at the club despite missing five games with a knee injury.