The Giants will play in September without the safety net of a double chance after finishing fifth, with a home elimination final against Hawthorn up first on Saturday week.
History makes it clear snaring a flag from the bottom half of the top eight is extremely difficult, under the finals format introduced in 2000.
Only two teams have achieved the feat - the Western Bulldogs in 2016, and defending premiers Brisbane.
But GWS defender Lachie Ash, pointing to their fairytale 2023 run, reckons the Giants are more than capable of beating the odds.
In their first year under coach Adam Kingsley, the Giants had turned around a 3-7 start to the 2023 campaign with a winning streak of seven matches.
That streak set a club record and shot them up the ladder to seventh place.
They went agonisingly close to matching their 2019 grand final appearance, suffering a one-point loss to eventual premiers Collingwood in the preliminary final.
Their 2023 September campaign was a fairytale run compared to last year's straight-sets finals exit.
Finishing fourth on the ladder, GWS twice fumbled a comfortable lead, first losing by six points to Sydney before a five-point loss to the Lions in a home semi-final.
"We play better when everything is on the line," Ash told AAP.
The thinking's the same with midfielder Finn Callaghan.
"No double chance means we've got to be at our best every week, and I feel like we play better when that's the way it is," Callaghan told AAP.
Young stars Ash and Callaghan were named in the All-Australian squad for the first time following a breakout season, but missed out on a blazer.
GWS key defender Sam Taylor earned his second All-Australian nod after overcoming injury in the last two seasons.
"I thought (Ash) was a bit stiff not to get it because he's had such an incredible season," Taylor told AAP.
"Watching him week in, week out, he's just been huge.
"When you mark the ball, he just runs 30-40m and breaks lines. He gets our offence going.
"I'm so proud of him."
Ash has been a key cog in the Giants' surging Orange Tsunami playing style, lighting up the game off half-back with his speed.
The 24-year-old has averaged 27.9 disposals, 6.3 marks and 543m gained over 23 matches this year.
"It's the first time in my career I've been playing the way that I know I'm capable of," Ash said.
"We didn't finish (last) year the way we wanted to finish it, so that really drove me to start this year the way I did.
"I've been happy with the year I've had so far but, it'd be nice to top it off with a few finals wins and a premiership, for sure."
9°C