GREATER Western Sydney is hopeful Brett Deledio can salvage his season despite suffering yet another calf injury against Carlton on Sunday.
Deledio played no part in the second half of the Giants' massive win and there were genuine fears that his season was in jeopardy after his latest setback.
The veteran's teammates Toby Greene (hamstring), Sam Taylor (hamstring) and Dawson Simpson (ankle) were also injured against the Blues in a rough day for the visitors at Etihad Stadium.
MATCH PREVIEW Giants v Crows
But scans have cleared Deledio of any tendon damage in his left calf, meaning he's a chance to play again in 2018 if the club can secure a spot in the top eight after the regular season.
Coach Leon Cameron said Deledio could feature in the first week of finals if GWS makes a third straight post-season campaign.
"No doubt the first thing you think about (when he went down) is whether he's going to play again this year," he said.
"Either way you look at it, it's disappointing because he just hasn't been able to get any rhythm and there's no hiding from that fact.
"When he does he's played some good footy.
"But two or three days go by, he knuckles down and goes about his business again, and I think that’s why he's admired by a lot of people.
"He thrashes himself in cross-training to prepare for the opportunity that might come later in the year, and he's a real professional."
Deledio's time at the Giants has been littered with calf and Achilles issues, with the gun midfielder limited to just seven games in his debut season, and nine so far this year.
GWS defender Heath Shaw said the dual All Australian will get all the support he needs from everyone at the club.
"That’s pretty much all you can do, is put an arm around him," he said.
"He's experienced in dealing with these sorts of injuries unfortunately.
"Sitting next to him on the bus after the game (last week), it was a sad sight because he's done all the hard work to get back time after time, and he just keeps getting injured.
"No doubt he'll go back to the well again and do everything right to have a tilt at the finals, like he did last year.
"It's a tough time for him but we're going to back him in."
Simpson has been ruled out for the rest of the season, with Greene and Taylor likely to join Deledio in pressing for a return during the finals, meaning Cameron will need to make at least four changes for Saturday night's clash with Adelaide in Canberra.
They should welcome back Dylan Shiel (ankle), Ryan Griffen (hamstring), Tim Taranto (knee) and Sam Reid (knee), if the quartet can get through training this week.
