SYDNEY Swan Mike Pyke believes "it's just a matter of time" before fellow ruckman Shane Mumford signs a new deal with the reigning premiers.
Pyke and Mumford have formed one of the AFL's deadliest duos in recent years, alternating between ruck contests and the forward line and the former Cat is yet to sign on with the club for 2014.
The pair helped the Swans top the competition in total hit-outs for 2013, ahead of West Coast and North Melbourne.
Swans as well placed for finals tilt as last year, says Mumford
In a break-out home and away season, Pyke finished second in the AFL for contested marks with 48, behind only Travis Cloke (55) and ahead of key forwards Drew Petrie (40), Nick Riewoldt (37) and Josh Kennedy (34).
Playing all 22 games, Pyke also added 26 goals, proving an invaluable member of an injury-depleted Swans outfit that still managed to finish in the top four.
It is the sort of form that meant the Canadian was unlucky to miss out on the 40-man All Australian squad announced on Tuesday, although he said he "certainly wasn't surprised" by his omission.
Heading into last year's finals series, Pyke was out of contract and facing an uncertain future, but managed to put all that to one side and play a starring role in the Grand Final victory over Hawthorn.
Mumford now finds himself in a similar position and Pyke is confident his partner in crime – who has been linked with Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn – will soon commit his future to the Swans.
"No doubt, everyone's hoping that," Pyke said.
"It's just a matter of time. These sorts of things get pushed back now at this time of year.
"I was in the same situation last year and you don't think about it once finals roll around. You want it on the backburner.
"Hopefully something gets done at the end of the year when we're all done."
Once considered a pointless experiment by some, former rugby international Pyke has silenced all the doubters, stringing 40 consecutive games together dating back to last season.
He now has 68 games to his name and is contracted until the end of 2014.
At the age of 29, Pyke feels comfortable with his standing in the game.
"I feel really confident and feel like the confidence around me has really grown," he said.
"When you make a one-off mistake, it's not down to the fact I have no idea what I'm doing anymore, it's just a one-off mistake, which is nice.
"Certainly every game you feel more experienced."
Pyke even gets recognised occasionally on the street back home in Vancouver, although he joked "it'll require another Grand Final most probably" for him to fully stamp himself as a star back home.
He knows the Swans have a huge opportunity in Friday night's qualifying final against Hawthorn to really set up their season, with the winner progressing straight to a home preliminary final.
And if the Swans require an important goal during the game, they could do much worse than call on Pyke's services.
Of the players in the AFL to kick over 20 goals this year, Pyke's 76.5 per cent accuracy puts him first in the competition, ahead of Brisbane Lion Josh Green (75 per cent), Fremantle's Chris Mayne (72.9) and Hawk Jack Gunston (71.4).
"It's literally taken me four years to find a good routine and something that fits," Pyke said.
"I found something that fit with me in the pre-season and I stuck with it.
"It's just where I aim to kick the ball, probably using the natural swing of my kick to my advantage, and just feeling comfortable.
"Your confidence typically stems from training.
"I felt like I was kicking well in training and it just flowed into the games."
