WITH better luck on the injury front, GWS fans expect their side to make the Giant leap beyond the preliminary finals this season.

Twice in a row the Giants have finished inside the top four and progressed to the prelims, only to fall at the last agonising hurdle before the Grand Final.

Fourth remains the Giants' highest ladder finish, but this year a whopping 65 per cent of fans tipped GWS to rise to finish in the top two and secure a crucial home qualifying final.

Those predictions will be tested if Leon Cameron's talent-packed side suffers a recurrence of last year's injury plague.

Devon Smith, Ryan Griffen, Adam Kennedy, Nick Hayne and Jacob Hopper were among the players sidelined for huge chunks of last season.

Gun defender Zac Williams (achilles) is already out for the bulk of this campaign.

Underlining last year's challenges, Stephen Coniglio, who missed 15 games, was rated the Giants' key player by fans giving their take on their side's 2018 prospects in AFL.com.au's pre-season survey.

Here are the survey results, plus a selection of Giants fans' responses.

What's the Giants' weakest spot on the park?

The forward line. They need to make sure they get the structure and balance of smalls and talls right.

- Ben Dixon, Western Sydney NSW



Defence. Zac Williams' injury will put a lot of pressure on Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming to step up.

- Andrew Thomas, Brookvale, NSW

It'll be a great year if ...

... Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen play 18 games each.

- Shane MacIntyre, Sydney NSW

... we improve on our defence and make finals again with a top-two finish. We should be able to progress to the Grand Final as well.

- Cale Tierney, Baldivis WA

What's your dream headline in 2018?

'Giants get Giant win in Grand Final'

- Ben Davies, Quakers Hill NSW



'Giants destroy Collingwood for breakthrough premiership'

- Paul Nguyen, Burwood NSW

What's the headline you secretly dread?

'Toby Greene suspended ... again'

- Shawn Mendes, Perth WA



'More preliminary final heartbreak for Giants'

- Kate Turner, Newcastle NSW

Read more fans' season previews

• Adelaide: Bryce is nice, but backline the worry

• Brisbane: 50 goals for Eric and no spoon, please

• Carlton: In Cripps we trust

• Collingwood: From 13th to a premiership?

• Essendon: Are the bolstered Bombers the complete Package?

• Fremantle: Forward line, forward line, forward line

• Geelong: Grand designs for Gaz's return

• Gold Coast: Key Sun is also fans' biggest fear