GREATER Western Sydney star Stephen Coniglio has avoided a knee reconstruction, but he will have surgery on his left knee on Tuesday that will see him miss at least eight weeks.

Coniglio sent a major scare through the Giants camp when he pulled up in the opening minutes of Sunday's loss to Richmond, with fears he'd ruptured his ACL.

He went down and clutched at the left knee he hyperextended a week earlier against Brisbane at Giants Stadium and was helped from the field by trainers.

The restricted free agent requires arthroscopic surgery to fix damaged cartilage, but could be back in time to play a part in the Giants' finals campaign.

"I'll get the operation done tomorrow and then go from there. I guess just blessed in a way that it could've been a lot worse and grateful someone was definitely looking over me," Coniglio told reporters on Monday. 

"Nah it doesn't (impact the contract), I'm happy now, I just need to get my health right and then worry about if I can contribute in a small part for the team for the rest of the season."

Stephen Coniglio is helped from the ground on Sunday. Picture: AFL Photos

"Stephen underwent scans and assessment following last week's game and in consultation with our medical staff and the player himself, was cleared to play yesterday [Sunday]," Campbell said in a statement.

"Yesterday's scans showed this is an entirely new injury and separate to the incident last week."

The loss of Coniglio is a blow for the Giants who are already without co-captain Callan Ward for the season after he ruptured his ACL against Geelong in round four.

Fellow midfield gun Josh Kelly (calf) is also on the injured list, leaving GWS without its top three onballers for at least another couple of weeks.

Josh Kelly is another star mid who is missing for the Giants. Picture: AFL Photos

GWS has lost four of its past five games to slip to sixth on the ladder ahead of Saturday's crucial clash with Collingwood at Giants Stadium.

Coniglio, who is a free agent and out of contract at the end of 2019, has been linked to several melbourne clubs, including St Kilda, Carlton and Hawthorn. But the player has brushed off speculation about his playing future and put together another brilliant season.

Before Sunday's setback, he'd averaged 28.5 disposals (career high), 5.5 clearances, 4.3 tackles and 4.2 inside 50s from his 14 appearances, and also kicked 15 goals.

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The original Giant would have been heavily considered for this year's 2019 Virgin Australia AFL All Australian squad and looked a chance to eclipse the career best 17 votes he polled in the 2016 Brownlow Medal.

Coniglio's absence places even more responsibility on emerging leaders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper in the Giants' midfield, with Toby Greene expected to continue the high minutes he played as an onballer against the Tigers, and Lachie Whitfield a chance to move up the ground from half forward.

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Highly rated youngsters Aiden Bonar (four games), Jackson Hately (four), Nick Shipley (two) and Jye Caldwell (yet to debut) are all likely to be considered to replace Coniglio for the Pies clash.

Bonar and Shipley have been solid playing as inside midfielders in the NEAFL this year but haven't been given a senior opportunity, while Hately has been dropped three times in his debut season, despite some promising signs playing as a wingman.