SYDNEY Swans ruckman Mike Pyke is confident he's on top of a nagging knee injury that has cost him four games this season.
The Canadian missed the Swans' round 13 clash against Richmond but returned the following week against Port Adelaide, only to again been forced onto the sidelines for the team's crucial round 16 game against Hawthorn.
When the knee failed to respond to the week off on both occasions, the Swans' medical staff ordered Pyke to take a fortnight off and it seems to have worked wonders.
The 31-year-old came back against Collingwood in round 20 and the Swans have won three straight games, against the Pies, Greater Western Sydney and St Kilda.
Pyke isn't sure if he'll need post-season surgery but says he's thankful the problem responded so well to the time off.
"I couldn't have made it though (the season), and I think my form is probably in line with how my knee is feeling," Pyke said on Monday.
"Sometimes you don't look too far forward because if you know what's going on in there (the knee) it can play with your head.
"It's been pulling up better than it has all year, so it's nice to be feeling good at this time of the year."
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Pyke's combination with Kurt Tippett has been a major factor behind the recent spike in the Swans' form, with the former Crow no stranger to knee injuries himself.
Despite spending significantly more time in the ruck this year, Tippett has still kicked 37 goals, and Pyke believes the pair is building a strong relationship on the field.
"It's something we've been working on all year, trying to get that synergy going, and the last few weeks has been pretty fruitful for us to be honest," Pyke said.
"It's a matter of keeping that form going and keeping other clubs guessing.
"In terms of feeling comfortable with each other and knowing what each other wants on the ground, I think we're there.
"Kurt now feels like he can lean on me when he needs it and I'm the same with him.
"That's the best part of good ruck combination - being able to lean on each other and step up to the plate when the other guy needs you."
Lance Franklin was all smiles at the Swans' recovery session bathed in sunshine at a bayside pool in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with Nick Smith's hamstring seemingly the only worry for coach John Longmire ahead of the clash against Gold Coast on Saturday night.
