Phil Davis and Josh Kelly have been withdrawn from the GIANTS team to take on St Kilda, with Matt Buntine and Jackson Hately getting the call up to play at UNSW Canberra Oval on Saturday.

Davis had made good progress in his recovery from a badly rolled ankle sustained in round five and was named in the GIANTS’ side on Thursday night, but after the team’s light training run on Friday, the coaching and medical staff opted to take the cautious approach with the GIANTS’ co-captain and give him another week to ensure he is at 100 per cent on his return.

Kelly, who during the week signed a contract extension with the GIANTS, is out of the side with an adductor injury suffered last week.

He completed the captain’s run on Friday afternoon but was withdrawn from the 22 later that day.

The changes will see Buntine retain his spot from last week’s win over the Swans, while impressive first-year GIANT Jackson Hately returns for his second game.

Isaac Cumming is also set to play his first AFL game for the 2019 season after he was named in the side on Thursday night following an impressive fortnight in the NEAFL.

Lachie Keeffe and Nick Shipley have been added to the GIANTS’ emergencies.