Greater Western Sydney insist star recruit Brett Deledio remains on track for the AFL season despite his problematic calf flaring up again.
The former Richmond vice-captain will miss the opening stages of the pre-season competition after suffering calf tightness.
Deledio, who joined the Giants during the October trade period in a major coup for the expansion club, only managed 11 games last year because of his ongoing calf issues.
The 29-year-old will miss the Giants' first pre-season game against West Coast in Narrandera, in the NSW Riverina, on February 18.
GWS will weigh up whether he returns for their home clash against Sydney on March 3 or against North Melbourne in Canberra on March 10.
But medical staff are confident Deledio's preparations for the season remain "on track", the club said on Tuesday.
"We'll be taking a conservative approach to managing Brett's calf to maximise his availability during the season," Giants fitness boss David Joyce said.
"He's a competitor and we couldn't be happier with how Brett has performed since arriving at the club in November.
"Brett will maintain his strength program but will have his running loads reduced in the short term as we look to build up his training again over the next three weeks."
Deledio looms as a key player for the Giants, who reached the preliminary final for the first time last year and are favourites to win a maiden premiership.
The No.1 draft pick in 2004, Deledio played 243 games for Richmond and earned All-Australian selection in 2012 and 2015.
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