SYDNEY could regain experienced pair Dan Hannebery and Gary Rohan for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
Hannebery (calf) hasn't played since the Swans' loss to Geelong in round 16 but acted as a runner for the NEAFL side last week, alongside Rohan, and was close to returning against Collingwood.
The midfielder has struggled for form in 2018 after a pre-season calf complaint and has averaged just 18.4 possessions in his 11 games, well down on his usual output.
Despite Hannebery's patchy season, Sydney coach John Longmire said the onballer won't be required to return through the reserves if he's passed fit to play this week.
"We'd be pretty keen to get him back in the seniors as quick as we can, he's a quality player," he said.
"He trained well last week but we were just a bit shy to pick him, given he hadn't had a couple of weeks of training.
"We're looking forward to seeing how he goes and we're confident he'll train really well.
"The training he did last week was really good so if we can get another week into him, that’s a great start for him."
Rohan was last seen in the senior team when the Swans lost to Richmond at Etihad Stadium in round 15, after he suffered some hamstring tightness, then fractured his hand in the NEAFL in his return match against Gold Coast on July 21.
The speedster would add experience, and some much-needed fresh legs to the Sydney forward line if he was picked to face the Demons.
Youngsters Will Hayward, Ben Ronke, Tom Papley and Tom McCartin haven't had much impact over the past month, and superstar Lance Franklin needs more assistance with just three games left in the regular season.
Callum Sinclair is another Sydney player who will need help against the Dees, with the big man facing just about the toughest two-game stretch of the season for a ruckman.
The 28-year-old was well beaten by Collingwood star Brodie Grundy in the first half of last week's two-point win at the SCG but fought back after the main break to be a valuable contributor for his team.
He'll need another strong effort on Sunday when he takes on Melbourne giant and All Australian candidate Max Gawn.
"Brodie Grundy is one of the elite ruckmen in the competition and Callum is going to get another big challenge this week in Max Gawn," Longmire said.
"They're two of the best – if not the best – ruckmen in the competition.
"If we get our intensity right at ground level and put on the layers of pressure that we need to apply, that certainly helps.
"But if we don't and Gawn gets on top then you leave it for luck and we're not about that.
"When you're playing against an elite ruckman it's very difficult to get everything right.
"We thought we put enormous pressure on in the scramble situation (against Collingwood), which is what you've got to be mindful of when you're playing against a team with a really talented ruckman."
