The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 AFL draft, Tim Taranto has been a "standout" performer at Giants training through the pre-season.

Taranto will get another chance to impress Giants coach Leon Cameron when he comes off the interchange bench against North Melbourne on Friday night.

A crowd of around 5000 is expected at Manuka Oval, which is set to be renamed UNSW Canberra Oval.

Scully signed a $5 million five-year deal to join the Giants in 2011, but bore the brunt of the public criticism in the club's infancy as the Giants struggled on the park.

GWS managed just nine wins from their first 66 matches before shooting to premiership contention in 2016, as Scully confirmed his status as one of the club's best players.

"Obviously the first couple of years was trying for everyone, obviously the team wasn't performing as well as we would have liked," Scully said.

"That's certainly changed over the last couple of years and I think I've just stuck to the basics.

"I've just kept trying to improve all the time, trying to be the best teammate I can be, and it's as simple as just trying to play my role as best as I can for the team."

A new year means new blood for the Giants, and Scully has backed Taranto to make his AFL debut in the early stages of the season.

"I think Tim's composure for a young guy has really stood out," Scully said.

"There's no doubt that he's certainly putting some pressure on to play early on. He's a great guy, works really hard, and he's done everything right so far."

Taranto was given a warm welcome to the top level when he was flattened by Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin in his second senior match last weekend.

Taranto's teammate Devon Smith feared the young gun had broken his ribs such was the force of the collision.

But the Victorian product soon returned to the field and nailed a goal, after which he was greeted by a congratulatory swarm of orange jumpers.

"I think it just shows his character," Scully said.

"It was a tough hit, he's a tough kid. He puts his head over the ball and that's all you can do to earn respect."

Scully expects it won't be the final time Taranto clashes with Franklin after his efforts in the pre-season that saw him finish inside the top five in the club's three kilometre time trial - a list topped by Scully.

"There's no doubt he's proven over the last two games he's played and at training, he's certainly capable of playing at the highest level and hopefully goes well again [on Friday].

"That'll be up to the coaches but he's certainly done his chances no harm. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can produce this year."

AFL COMMUNITY SERIES

Friday: GWS Giants v North Melbourne at Manuka Oval, Canberra. Bounce at 5:50pm.

GWS squad:

FB: Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson, Adam Kennedy. HB: Zac Williams, Nick Haynes, Heath Shaw. C: Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly. HF: Toby Greene, Jonny Patton, Jeremy Cameron. FF: Steve Johnson, Rory Lobb, Devon Smith. R: Shane Mumford, Ryan Griffen, Dylan Shiel. Interchange: Matt Buntine, Aidan Corr, Matt Kennedy, Tendai Mzungu, Sam Reid, Dawson Simpson, Nathan Wilson, Stephen Coniglio, Tim Taranto.

North Melbourne squad:

4. Shaun Higgins, 6. Lachlan Hansen, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Nathan Hrovat, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Luke McDonald, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Ryan Clarke, 14. Trent Dumont, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 21. Jy Simpkin, 22. Todd Goldstein, 24. Sam Durdin, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 28. Kayne Turner, 30. Jarrad Waite, 31. Braydon Preuss, 33. Ed Vickers-Willis, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 38. Majak Daw, 39. Mitch Hibberd, 41. Corey Wagner, 42. Declan Mountford, 43. Sam Gibson