Greater Western Sydney is collectively heartbroken at another serious hamstring injury to Phil Davis which threatens the stalwart's AFL career.
Davis is unlikely to play again this season after suffering a right hamstring injury in Saturday night's 55-point loss to Port Adelaide.
The former Giants captain was hurt in just his third match back after spending three months on the sidelines because of a left hamstring tear.
There's no guarantee he will play on next year - Davis turns 32 next month and comes off-contract at the end of the season.
"It's one of those real sad ones just because, I don't know the extent yet, but it's a sad one just because of what he has been through," GWS caretaker coach Mark McVeigh said.
"He rehabbed really well through a pretty bad injury to get to this point again ... it's heartbreaking for our club to potentially lose him for the rest of the year, which you'd probably think is going to happen."
McVeigh believed Davis had more to offer on-field next year in what would be his 14th AFL season.
But the interim coach was reluctant to deeply discuss the future of the 192-gamer.
"Phil is someone who's very resilient and can manage and rehab injuries really well - and he has had some bad ones over the years," McVeigh said.
"It's probably not one for me to discuss the future in that regard so I would like to keep that very respectful.
"But from my point of view, I have valued who he has been for the club for a long period of time and the appropriate people will have those conversations, however that looks.
"I am not even sure of his contract status to be honest. It's a hard one."
Davis was helped off Adelaide Oval, where he started his career with the Crows, during the Giants' heaviest loss - 12.12 (84) to 3.11 (29) - in McVeigh's seven games in charge since replacing Leon Cameron as coach.
McVeigh wants the permanent head coaching job next season and expects to formally present to the GWS board in two or three weeks.
The Giants have already talked to Alastair Clarkson but the four-time Hawthorn premiership coach is yet to signal his intentions.
