SYDNEY ruckman Callum Sinclair's hopes of playing again this season will be determined by how his injured shoulder responds to rehabilitation over the next month.
Sinclair dislocated his right shoulder twice in the opening term of the Swans' 42-point win over Gold Coast at the SCG on Saturday and played no further part in the match after quarter-time.
He's avoided an operation at this stage, which would end his year immediately, and the Swans are hopeful a strength program can get him back on the field this season.
At the very least he will miss the next three games.
Sydney coach John Longmire said on Monday the Swans have been forced to take a wait-and-see approach with their No.1 ruckman.
FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game
"We need to let it settle down and strengthen the shoulder and take it from there," he said.
"It doesn't mean he's definitely come back or that he's definitely going to have an operation, it just means we need to wait and see over the next few weeks.
"It's one of those grey areas because it's not (damaged) bad enough to absolutely do it (surgery) just yet, so we'll give him the time to let it settle.
"His season hasn't been written off just yet and we'll see how he goes over the next three weeks."
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Sinclair's absence means the Swans have just one fit recognized ruckman available ahead of this week's clash with Essendon at the MCG, in mid-season draftee Michael Knoll.
After his team's solid win over the Suns, Longmire said he wasn't sure the raw big man and basketball convert was ready to carry the load at senior level just yet, after only arriving at the club in May.
Aliir Aliir and Sam Reid shared the duties against Gold Coast which forced Longmire to shuffle Tom McCartin into defence.
The Bombers have their own issues after Tom Bellchambers injured his calf against Greater Western Sydney on Thursday night, with former Fremantle ruckman Zac Clarke expected to earn a call-up as his replacement.
Longmire said the make-up of the opposition's 22 is the least of his worries this week.
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"It's hard to know what they'll do, it's hard enough picking our team let alone Essendon's," he said.
"We'll look at it all in its entirety and hopefully come up with the right decision.
"We've been really pleased with what Aliir and Sam have done at both ends of the ground, they've had reasonable solid seasons both of them.
"But it is what it is, this is just another challenge for our team to adapt and be flexible, and problem solve, and that’s what it's about.
"You've got to approach it with a positive mindset and get on with it and our guys have been doing that, they've shrugged the shoulders and got on with it."
