Greater Western Sydney midfielder Toby Bedford appears a certain starter for this weekend's do-or-die semi-final clash against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
The Giants released an update on Tuesday stating that Bedford had been declared available to return from a calf injury that has sidelined him from the club's past two matches.
Bedford was a late withdrawal from the Giants' Round 24 clash against the Western Bulldogs and missed last weekend's qualifying final against Sydney with club physiotherapists opting to take a cautious approach with his rehabilitation.
"Toby Bedford has been declared available and is set to return for this weekend's must win semi-final against the Lions an ENGIE Stadium," a club report read.
"Bedford pushed his case to be selected for last weekend's qualifying final but the club took no risks and instead Bedford completed a full training session at the club on Saturday.
"He is expected to again fully train this week and be available for selection.".
The Bunuba man has emerged as a vital cog in the Giants' midfield this season with his ability to negate the opposition's best midfielder a key feature of his game.
Bedford is likely to be given the tagging role on star Lions midfielder Lachie Neale, who has averaged 29 disposals and eight clearances per game across the 2024 season.
The former Melbourne player was given the role on Neale and kept the dual Brownlow Medal winner to just 19 disposals and 95 minutes the last time these two teams met in Round 22.
Bedford expects to be given the job on Neale but his happy to play any role determined by Giants coach Adam Kingsley.
"Obviously last time we played them, I went to Neale," Bedford told the AAP.
"If 'Kingers' wants me to go to him or someone else, or just play a normal role, I'm happy to do so as long as I'm out there trying to help, and not sitting in the stands again."
The 24-year-old is looking forward to returning after the 'extremely hard' task of watching last weekend from the sidelines.
"I've got to get to the training and everything like that, then team selection's got to go my way, but that's the plan (returning to play)," Bedford told AAP.
"It's extremely hard watching from the sidelines and it's something that I don't do very well at all, especially in a big game like that.
"I was sitting next to my girlfriend and I was just chewing my nails off – she kept having to smack my hands out of my face to relax me, but I just couldn't help it.
"I thought I was pretty close to playing (last weekend), I tried to push for sub and few different things, but in terms of risk management that wasn't the case."
