IN A big boost as Greater Western Sydney eyes its first finals campaign key defender Joel Patfull is set to return to the field next weekend.

The dual Brisbane Lions club champion was a vital member of the Giants' backline before being injured in the club's loss to Collingwood in round 11 at the MCG.

Patfull cracked two ribs and punctured a lung in a collision with teammate Matt Buntine against the Magpies and has not been seen since.

Co-captain Phil Davis (ankle) also went down against the Pies, robbing the GWS backline of its two most important players.

It has left the Giants' key defensive roles to Buntine (25 games), Nick Haynes (39), Aidan Corr (25), Caleb Marchbank (2) and Adam Tomlinson (48), and Patfull says he has been enormously impressed by their contributions.

With their first-choice tall backs missing, the group of youngsters has taken on and beaten the likes of North Melbourne pair Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite, Richmond duo Jack Riewoldt and Ty Vickery, and in-form St Kilda trio Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey.

"I think they've been great, they’ve been amazing really, it's really good to see," Patfull told AFL.com.au.

"I think those guys are used to playing above their weight bracket on guys who are bigger and taller than them anyway, so it's nothing they're not used to.

"It's been really good to see them take on the challenge and really accept it and beat some really good players."

GWS also lost ruckman Shane Mumford for the season with an ankle injury in the loss to Collingwood, after which many were writing off any hope that the club could make the finals.

Patfull said he understood why the media put a line through his team's season due to the significance of Mumford's year-ending surgery, but heaped praise on replacements Rory Lobb and Tom Downie.

Lobb was thrashed against the Kangaroos when their big man Todd Goldstein had a League record 80 hit-outs, but since then Patfull believes the GWS pair have settled well at senior level.

"I think 'Mummy' (Shane Mumford) being a pretty important player, I think he was probably the one that the media thought we couldn't go on without," Patfull said.

"It's given an opportunity to some young players and they probably took a couple of weeks to step up, but especially on the weekend they played their role and played well.

"Even against Richmond I thought both guys did well against (Ivan) Maric, it was only that North Melbourne game that we were exposed.

"I think the last couple of weeks they've been great and I think going forward they'll fill that gap really well."

Patfull described his injury as the most painful he has suffered on the footy field, but his troubles did not end when he was discharged from hospital.

Because of the punctured lung, flying back to Sydney wasn't an option. So the 30-year-old was forced to jump on a train, accompanied by Giants' player welfare manager Craig Lambert.

"It was an interesting experience," Patfull said.

"We had a good trip. It ended up being about 12 hours and we shared a few stories.

"It could have been pretty painful if we didn't get along well, but we know each other from our Brissie days.

"It probably made our friendship stronger. He's not the worst bloke to spend 12 hours with."

Patfull should be fit to return for next week's clash with Geelong in Canberra and revealed that if it was up to him he would be taking on Gold Coast on Saturday at Metricon Stadium.

"I was pretty keen to play but the doctors hit that on the head pretty quick. From their point of view it was a bit of a risk," Patfull said.

"The lung was healed within the first two or three weeks so now it's just the bone.

"They say it takes six weeks so I'll wait the full six weeks and get out there."