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AAP
Joanna Guelas

Kingsley guarantees Coniglio return against Dockers

Stephen Coniglio will return for GWS's top-two push, after a month out, against the Dockers. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)

GWS coach Adam Kingsley guarantees there'll be no umming and aahing around Stephen Coniglio's availability: the midfielder will play against Fremantle.

Coniglio is set to line up against the Dockers at Engie Stadium on Saturday for his first match since round 19 after overcoming a shoulder complaint.

The Giants vice-captain has been battling the injury since dislocating his right shoulder in their round-11 win over Geelong.

He returned to play in round 16 before being sidelined three weeks later with soreness.

Coniglio was in the frame to return earlier than their upcoming round-23 clash but the club opted to give the midfield bull more time to recover.

"He's been a bit frustrated because each week we think he should be right this week, and the strength element to his shoulder hasn't quite ticked off the boxes," Kingsley said.

"But I'm pretty sure he's excited now if he's ticked off.

"He sounds like he's ticked himself off.

"He's certainly trained really well, so we're looking forward to having him back in."

Coniglio has only played 11 games this season after also missing four weeks with a minor medial collateral ligament tear sustained in round five.

Ruck star Kieren Briggs will also play on Saturday after being managed for shoulder soreness last week against the Brisbane Lions.

Max Gawn and Kieren Briggs.
Kieren Briggs (R) contests a bounce with Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)

The duo's return will be a massive boost for the GWS midfield who are set to take on Fremantle's clearance beasts Hayden Young, Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw.

"Their clearance game is outstanding. It's the best in the comp," Kingsley said.

"They got a lot of strengths Fremantle. Offensively, they're really good. Defensively, they're really good.

"It's a tough challenge. We'll have to manage their midfield and try and nullify the clearances as best as we can.

"They've got really strong systems so we've got to be able to move the ball in a way that challenges them."

Already missing captain Alex Pearce (broken forearm), the Dockers will be without key forward Josh Treacy (knee) and ruck Sean Darcy (knee soreness) for a second straight week.

Michael Walters was named as an emergency after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Fremantle have handed an AFL debut to ruck Liam Reidy, while Nathan O'Driscoll will play his first senior match of the year after recovering from a knee injury.

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