SYDNEY coach John Longmire says Kieren Jack will still come under selection consideration for round one, despite missing all of the club's pre-season games.
Jack's only run has been an intraclub hit-out. He wasn't selected for Sydney’s first JLT Community Series game and the intention to play him in the last two has been scuttled by a hip complaint.
"Hopefully his rehab is on track and next week he starts to build that up and he's right for round one," Longmire said on Friday.
Jack is yet another pre-season concern for last year's minor premiers.
The Swans' other 2016 co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, small forward Tom Papley and speedster Gary Rohan will all miss at least the first round and in some cases beyond, with boom youngster Isaac Heeney also in doubt for their season opener against Port Adelaide.
Jack spent Friday morning's training session in the Swans' rehab group alongside, Papley, McVeigh and Rohan.
"He's done almost all of the pre-season except for the last couple of weeks," Longmire said on Friday.
"It's only been the last two weeks that he's just missed.
Key-position defender Aliir Aliir, who missed Sydney's first two pre-season games with a toe issue, was listed to play in Fridays' NEAFL practice match against Greater Western Sydney.
Longmire said star forward Lance Franklin, who made his comeback from shoulder surgery last week, will probably have more playing time against St Kilda in Albury on Sunday.
The health issues, plus the retirement of Ben McGlynn and the departures of Tom Mitchell and Xavier Richards, have potentially opened up opportunities for some of the youngsters on Sydney's list to play against Port.
The initial extended squad for Sunday's game included six players who have yet to play a senior game, including last year's first-round draft pick, Oliver Florent.
Longmire said Florent's GPS running numbers had gone "though the roof" and he had shown himself capable of playing against fully grown men.
"Whether he plays round one or not, we're not sure yet. It doesn't really concern us, but we do know he's on the right path," Longmire said.
He said there had been some tinkering to Sydney's game style for this year, whilst stressing it would still be based on the foundation of applying enormous pressure.
