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Gruelling schedule stretches Giants

Eagles star Mark LeCras has been named on the extended interchange bench. Picture: Mogens Johansen/WA News

Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron says his team's arduous travel schedule will present his players with their biggest test of the season in Sunday's game against West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

The Giants head west, their fifth successive interstate trip, having already travelled to Canberra (twice), Adelaide and the Gold Coast in the previous month.

It is a schedule that gives the out-of-sorts Eagles an overwhelming advantage as they attempt to end a four-match losing streak punctuated by horrible goal kicking.

The Giants' home ground, Spotless Stadium, is currently unavailable, leaving them to instead play two home matches in Canberra against the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide.

"They get used to it, but there's no doubt that it's arduous for our boys," Cameron said.

"We travel 13 times. We love to travel down to Canberra, but when you have a travel block of five weeks in a row, it is interesting to see how you go with energy levels and can we hang in there?

"It's a big ask this week. It's the fifth week in a row before we have a bye and the biggest travel for us is across the Nullarbor."

The Eagles recalled experienced trio Mark LeCras, Sharrod Wellingham and Xavier Ellis.

LeCras, who hasn't played for a month after breaking his right arm, and Wellingham were named on the extended interchange bench.

As if their inclusions weren't enough, the Giants were unable to select forward Jeremy Cameron because of an ear injury.

The All-Australian has been passed fit to play, but isn't allowed to fly. The club looked at options but decided it wasn't realistic.

"It's unique circumstances," the coach said.

"He just can't fly. He'd have loved to have played."

The Giants also lost midfielder Adam Treloar and defender Curtly Hampton to ankle injuries, and decided to wait until after the bye to recall ruckman Shane Mumford from a knee injury.

But the club's depth of key- position players was on show as it recalled first-round draft picks Aidan Corr and Kristian Jaksch.

No.1 draft selection Lachie Whitfield, ruckman Andrew Phillips, Geelong premiership defender Josh Hunt and WA's Nathan Wilson were also named in the extended squad.

Last year's No.1 pick Tom Boyd will not play. Cameron said the club was glad it had so many tall players to pick from.

"We feel as though to develop your talls from within is a great starting block," Cameron said.

"To have 13 or 14 on the list that are young and want to develop really quickly, it is good that they can compete with each other."