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Aidan Corr was ready to play on Lance Franklin in Sydney's AFL derby, his first game in almost 10 months, but the Swans superstar was a shock withdrawal.

GWS key defender Aidan Corr's first AFL match in almost 10 months can only be described as weird.

Not so much because of what transpired at the SCG on Saturday night but rather a week of uncertainty that ended with Phil Davis and Lance Franklin both missing the Sydney derby.

Corr, whose groin injury ruined his 2018 campaign then interrupted his 2019 pre-season, spent the week wondering whether teammate Davis would be fit for the clash.

If Davis overcame an ankle injury and tackled the Swans, GWS's captain was certain to be given the big job on Franklin.

If Davis was a late scratching, Corr would play on one of the league's most destructive forwards.

Corr steeled himself for the immense challenge on Saturday, having found out that Davis was a confirmed non-starter but Franklin's hamstring injury proved a last-minute twist prior to the Giants' 41-point win.

"About one minute before the team meeting, Phil told me (Franklin was out) and told me not to tell anyone because it wasn't confirmed," Corr said.

"He's a great player. It's a bit of a sigh of relief, there's no doubt ... but it was back to business straight away."

Davis was among many spectators at the SCG keen to see how Corr would fare against four-time Coleman medallist Franklin.

"I was really looking forward to it," Davis said pre-match.

"He's a great young player. It would have been great to see him against Buddy."

Corr admitted it had been a "weird" week.

"First game back in ages, thinking I was a sniff to play on Buddy," the 25-year-old said.

"Up until late, I still thought Phil was half a chance ... I didn't want to bug him (during the week) because I didn't want to make it seem like I was scared of playing on Buddy."

Corr termed the groin injury which threatened to derail his career - and was ultimately fixed after consulting specialists in Ireland - a "bit of a disaster".

"It's one of those things, some boys get OP (osteitis pubis) and you've just got to deal with it," he said.

"Took ages but it is what it is and I'm happy I'm back playing this early in the season."