The 26-year-old, who in October signed a contract to stay at the GWS Giants until the end of 2023, said she was looking forward to watching the season opener on television after training before heading north to tackle the Gold Coast Suns at Mackay on Sunday.

"It's super exciting," Steane said.

"After training [Friday] I'll go home and watch that game tonight, which is when I think it will hit home that this is actually happening.

"It's a strange feeling because it seems so foreign and so far away even though it's so close."

Ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions mean the Giants haven't played any trial matches ahead of round one despite having an extended pre-season training period.

"It has been pretty crazy, but considering last season we were on the road in a hub this season has been pretty smooth sailing," Steane said.

"COVID has been a bit of an issue for us and a couple of the girls in our team have got it, but they've all followed the right protocols and luckily no one else in the team has really been impacted.

"We didn't get to play a practise match. We were meant to play Adelaide but unfortunately we missed that opportunity because of changes in border restrictions.

"It feels a bit bizarre but we've done a lot of match fitness, just against each other. It's been a bit of a unique lead up but I don't think AFLW has a normal at the moment. You've just got to go with the flow.

"It's awesome they've committed to get the season finished and that's all that really matters. Now the players do our role."

Steane says she's been doing everything she can to avoid coronavirus.

"I know how long and how hard I've worked to get here," she said.

"I haven't been eating out or going to cafes, I've been getting my groceries delivered, just hanging at the beach or with teammates.

"It's been a bit different but It's just head down, bum up, train hard and control what I can control.

"It could happen to me at any point, I could catch it at a petrol station, I've just been trying to alleviate that risk as much as possible."

GWS officially announced their playing squad on Saturday.

Lisa Steane admits there's a certain level of comfort that comes with signing a deal for the next two years, but she knows that doesn't guarantee the AFLW starting spot she's after.

The former Nelson Bay Marlins player will remain at the GWS Giants until the end of the 2023 season, having made the first of her 10 appearances last year, but her goal for the upcoming campaign is more time in the middle.

"There's part of me that feels really lucky because I've got a contract and I know I'm with a team for at least the next two years, but being on a team doesn't equate to playing," Steane, 26, told the Newcastle Herald.

"I think I feel more ready each season with more experience, but every season I still feel like I'm back at square one and I have to earn my position.

"Last year I played the first four games and didn't play much after that, so I feel like I haven't played for a while and I need to train really well and make sure I've improved a lot so I can get a spot on the starting team again."

Pre-season training officially kicked off for the Giants this week with coronavirus recently seeing the AFLW season delayed a month, now starting in January.

The competition remains at 14 teams this season, but Steane describes expansion to 18 for 2022-23 as "awesome". This includes second Sydney side the Swans.

"People are saying Sydney's not ready because there's not enough talent, but I don't completely agree ... with the right coaching and the right scouting a (second) team can definitely be fielded here," she said.

"And the expansion of teams is just one step closer to being full-time, playing more games."

Collaroy-based teacher Steane played with both Manly (Sydney) and Williamstown (VFL) during 2021.

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