PROMISING Greater Western Sydney (GWS) key defender Lachie Plowman hopes to be back running next week as he eyes an early season return from injury.

Plowman and Giants team mate Jake Barrett spent the day in Wagga on Monday visiting schools, Wagga Base Hospital's children's ward and the Sheffield Shield clash as part of GWS's community camps.

The hi-tech brace stood out on Plowman during the visits as he recovers from surgery on his dislocated left elbow.

Plowman suffered the injury for a second time in his football career at training last month and is already sick of being restricted to gym work at training.

"It's going alright," Plowman said.

"It's a slow process the first month or so.

"Hopefully the brace comes off this week sometime."

A return date has not been set for Plowman.

It could rule him out for much of the upcoming AFL season, or he could be back after the opening month.

"It's sort of hard to know," he said.

"I've got to go back and see the surgeon regularly.

"Sometimes when rugby players get it they can miss the whole year so I've got to be careful about it.

"The time frame (the surgeon) gave me is four to six months.

"The best case scenario would be a month into the season, so I've just got to look after it.

"It's sort of touch and go and we'll see how it goes."

Plowman was picked up with selection number three in the 2012 AFL draft and played 14 games for the Giants last year.

It took his career tally to 18 AFL games.

He dislocated his elbow in his final year of under 18 football but did it more extensively this time around.

"This time I did everything, so it's pretty full on," he said.

"It's bit of a disappointing thing to do.

"At the moment, I'm not aloud to run, it's just been leg work and cardio on a bike.

"That's been alright but hopefully I'll commence running early next week, that's not as boring as sitting on a bike.

"Hopefully later on in the year I can play some good footy in the twos and work my way back into the team."