Already reeling from a 0-2 start to the AFL season, GWS have booked key pair Jacob Hopper and Phil Davis in for surgery.
In a massive blow for the Giants, who are still without suspended star Toby Greene for another two weeks, midfield bull Hooper (knee) and key defender Davis will both be sidelined until the second-half of the season.
Davis is coming off an injury-plagued 2021 but returned in outstanding touch by limiting Lance Franklin to just one goal in the opening-round Sydney derby.
However, the former co-captain suffered a significant hamstring injury late in the second quarter of last Sunday's loss against Richmond.
"Unfortunately he's done a really good job on that hamstring," Giants coach Leon Cameron said on Thursday.
"He goes into surgery and it's probably a 10 or 12-week injury ... which is disappointing because he was up and running playing some good footy.
"Two of the guys in our leadership group, an integral part of our team, are going to be out for a long period but we've been there and done it before.
"(Davis) is just a true professional ... but there's always going to be a little bit of grieving on injuries for players, especially long-term ones."
In better news for GWS ahead of their crunch match against the improving Gold Coast at Giants Stadium on Saturday, injury-prone ruckman Braydon Preuss will finally debut for the club.
Preuss struggled with a pectoral muscle injury and failed to play a game last year after being traded to GWS from Melbourne at the end of 2020.
The 26-year-old was suspended in a pre-season match but he will be selected to go up against Suns big man Jarrod Witts.
Since debuting for North Melbourne in 2017, Preuss has been restricted to just 18 AFL appearances.
"I think he's going to be nervous but our boys look forward to seeing him get out there and have some really good connection with our midfielders," Cameron said.
