GREATER Western Sydney CEO Dave Matthews admits the Giants have work to do to be under the salary cap in 2017.

Matthews was responding to reports from AFL.com.au's Damian Barrett on Channel Nine that the club would be $600,000 over the cap next year if changes weren't made to the list.

"I didn't see the report. The salary cap is always a juggle for any club," Matthews told radio station SEN on Friday morning.

"It's particularly so when there's a lot of players … on good deals, to try to retain them.

"It's been a huge challenge for us from a retention point of view.

"I'm not particularly interested in talking about any figures, but there is always a bit of a juggle, like any club."

Matthews' admission comes as AFL.com.au reports that Carlton and St Kilda are among the Victorian clubs targeting promising key defender Caleb Marchbank at the end of the season.

Gun forward Jeremy Cameron and top-line midfielders Tom Scully and Dylan Shiel are among the big-name Giants already under contract for 2017.

GWS traded eight players at the end of last season, including star midfielder Adam Treloar to Collingwood. 

Key forward Cam McCarthy, who is back in his home state of WA, is expected to again pursue a trade to Fremantle after the Giants knocked back his proposed move to the Dockers last year.