ZAC WILLIAMS plays with risk and his Greater Western Sydney teammates urge him to do so, given more often than not they're the ones who reap the rewards of his attacking style.

But you could forgive the Giants defender for having some doubts about taking off too often in today's crucial clash against Essendon.

Williams will take on the speedy Orazio Fantasia or Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, former teammate Devon Smith, or even the taller Jake Stringer in the Bombers' forward 50, with fellow small to medium defenders Lachie Whitfield, Heath Shaw, Adam Kennedy and Sam Reid his likely allies.

MATCH PREVIEW Giants v Bombers

The 24-year-old's ability to create from half back was sorely missed by the Giants last year, when Williams missed the entire home and away season after rupturing his Achilles in January.

He remarkably made it back to be a key contributor in the club's two finals, which gave Williams something positive to take into his summer.

The Giants carefully managed his workload over the pre-season and Williams told AFL.com.au he's in peak condition and won't be curbing his natural flair against the dynamic Essendon line-up, even though he knows he can get hurt going the other way if he turns the footy over.

"My teammates and the coaching staff give me a lot of confidence to run off half back," he said.

"They tell me to attack and they'll back me up and cover for me and fix any problems if they come up.

"I don't want to leave my teammates out to dry so I'm always conscious of beating my man first, but if I don't do what I'm in the team to do and be creative, I'll get a kick up the backside from the coaches.

"This year we've had a big focus on locking down our opponents and standing back shoulder, but at the same time, the coaches give us the confidence to be aggressive, go get the footy when we can and play our natural game.

"Essendon has got a lot of dangerous half forward flankers that can push up the ground and a lot of midfielders who can go forward as well.

"But we have Lachie, 'Kenners' and myself, plus Shawry, who has had a big pre-season coming off his knee, and Sam Reid, who can run just as well as Lachie.

"it's going to be an exciting match-up."

Williams was managed for the second week of the JLT Community Series but had 20 possessions and six rebound 50s in the Giants win over Sydney in game one.

Whitfield stepped into the role of defender last year when Williams went down and capped his first season in the backline by winning the best and fairest award, and Virgin Australia All Australian selection.

The pair lived together for six years and obviously formed a strong bond, but their path to the AFL couldn't have been any different.

Whitfield was a prized No.1 draft pick in 2012, while Williams was overlooked by every club at that national draft, before the Giants grabbed him as a rookie from Narrandera in country New South Wales.

Williams said his friendship with his now former housemate certainly helped them on the field.

"Everyone used to say we acted like a married couple, but we're like brothers, we're really close and have a great connection," he said.

"When I get the footy he just appears like a pop-up sprinkler almost and it's the same for me when he's got the ball, all we do is kick it to each other pretty much.

"Last year he dominated but when I came back I chirped up and told him to get back to the wing, and he didn't mind that.

"If we end up playing across half back this year it could be a dangerous look for opposition teams, but if we need him through the midfield or up forward, we know he can play anywhere on the ground.

"I'm just looking forward to getting out there again with him for a full season."