GREATER Western Sydney defender Tim Mohr has come through his first game back from a knee reconstruction with flying colours, but says his biggest battle – regaining his spot in the Giants' senior side – lies ahead.

Taken as a mature-age recruit in 2011, Mohr played 13 games in his debut season, before establishing himself under then coach Kevin Sheedy as the Giants' key tall down back, when he played every game in 2013.

Pre-season injuries meant the Tasmanian had a late start to 2014, but after battling his way back by round eight, another knee injury – this time a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – ended his year in round 18.

With an arduous rehabilitation completed, the 26-year-old played a practice match for the Giants against the Sydney Swans reserves last week, and said it was a great feeling to be on the park again.

"It was a very, very long eight months for me," Mohr told AFL.com.au

"All you want to do is play, especially when you feel like your knee is good enough to go out there, but the fitness staff tell me it's not where we want it to be. It was very tough."

"They're very long days. It started to take a toll on me mentally, for sure."

The 'rehab room' can be a lonely and unforgiving place for injured players, and Mohr said having teammate Jonathon Patton next to him made the world of difference.

Patton suffered his own season-ending ACL injury – the same one he had reconstructed in 2013 – three rounds after Mohr.

"We've become really close over the last eight months,” Mohr said of Patton.

“It's fantastic to have a partner; I felt really bad for him having to do everything on his own. It's great that he can pass on his knowledge to me.”

While Patton continues his road back to the playing arena with gruelling running sessions after the rest of the Giants have left the training track, Mohr has his eyes on an AFL return.

But he knows that his position in the Giants back six is gone – for now – thanks to the club's new-found depth in defence, something Mohr knows can only be a positive for GWS.

Former Collingwood premiership star Heath Shaw and dual Brisbane Lions club champion Joel Patfull have added a wealth of experience to the Giants' backline after arriving at the club over the past two seasons.

"I've got another full game this week in the NEAFL and apparently then I'm up for selection. It's whether or not I'm performing, if the coaches think I'm good enough to play I'll play, if not I won't," Mohr said.

In past seasons, GWS coaching staff might have been sweating on Mohr's fitness, but coach Leon Cameron now has the luxury of easing the popular clubman back into the action with his list in better shape.

"The good thing about our squad is that I don't have to bring him in early,” Cameron said.

“I think Aidan Corr is progressing really well, Phil Davis is playing some really good footy, so spots are tight and they're up for grabs.

"Our backline probably for large periods of last year was decimated with injuries. Phil (Davis), Tim Mohr and Nick Haynes to mention a few, and to have those guys up and running really makes it a rock-solid backline."