GREATER Western Sydney's injury woes have worsened with Jeremy Cameron and Brett Deledio ruled out of Friday's night clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
Cameron (toe) and Deledio (hamstring) join club champion Josh Kelly (groin), Toby Greene (foot) and Rory Lobb (knee) on the sidelines.
The absence of their stars is a major blow to the Giants' hopes of beating the Cats on their home deck for the first time.
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Cameron has been struggling with kicking because of his issue for weeks, while Deledio alerted the Giants' medical staff of some soreness late in last week's win over Brisbane.
GWS coach Leon Cameron said on Wednesday the positive for Deledio is that there is no strain or tear in the hamstring.
"He's presenting really, really well, but he's not presenting 100 per cent," Cameron said.
"He's had such a good start to the season, I'd hate to think that we roll him out too early, and something bigger happens.
"Jeremy has had a knee issue, then a toe issue, and a lot of players carry injuries throughout the year, but it's only round six so it's pretty tough to keep carrying issues like he's been doing."
Kelly will now sit out a fourth straight game in a worrying sign for the Giants, but Cameron said both he and Lobb could return for the Giants' round eight clash with West Coast at Spotless Stadium, although the ruckman is in better shape to be back playing before Kelly.
The midfielder is battling groin soreness – an issue he carried at times throughout his 2017 All Australian season – while Lobb has bone bruising in his knee after going down against Sydney at the SCG in round three.
"Josh is still a little bit up and down at the moment, he's having some really good days and some OK days, but there's no doubt he's heading in the right direction," Cameron said.
In better news for the Giants, GWS head of athletic performance David Joyce said that small forward Zac Langdon could yet be fit to take on the Cats after suffering a minor knee injury against the Lions.
"On the weekend we weren’t quite sure exactly how it would be, and we weren’t prepared to risk him in that game," Cameron said.
"He’s actually pulled up really, really well and the scans have come back with positive news for us. He needs to get through training and hopefully figure this weekend."