CARLTON and St Kilda are understood to be among a raft of Victorian clubs eyeing off Greater Western Sydney defender Caleb Marchbank, who is coming out of contract at season's end.

However AFL.com.au understands the 19-year-old Marchbank is a required player at the Giants who is very much in the emerging club's plans, despite injury restricting him to senior football in just the opening two games of the AFL season.

Whether Marchbank is tempted to look at other options at season's end remains to be seen as he is understood to have settled well in Sydney this season and is not focusing on anything at this stage other than rehabilitating his ankle in an effort to reclaim a spot in the Giants' strong senior team.

However, opposition clubs are still closely monitoring the No.6 selection in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

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He was a good performer across half-back in five AFL games in his first season and looked ready to cement a spot before he rolled his ankle in round two against Geelong.

He returned via the NEAFL last week but unfortunately hurt his ankle again and is facing another stint on the sidelines.

The Giants will take no risks with the highly rated Marchbank and he is expected to miss the next 5-7 weeks. 

Marchbank has played seven games at the Giants after making his debut in round 12 last season against North Melbourne.

Carlton was impressed with him during his TAC Cup career with the Murray Bushrangers and the Blues have had good results so far this season with ex-Giants Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner, Jed Lamb and Andrew Phillips, who were recruited at the end of last season.

Although the Giants' list is full of talent, full-back Joel Patfull turns 32 at the end of the season and Heath Shaw turns 31 later this year, so they would be keen to retain the talented key defender.

They have several players coming out of contract who are performing well in the NEAFL, such as Adam Tomlinson – a player Carlton tried to recruit last season – who picked up 44 touches last week against Gold Coast, and James Stewart who kicked five goals.

Midfielder Jack Steele is also unsigned but is performing well in the AFL team.

Forward Cam McCarthy is back in Western Australia and, although contracted until the end of 2017, is expected to join Fremantle at the end of the year with West Coast also reportedly considering making a play for him.