NAB AFL Rising Star favourite Callum Mills looks certain to be fit for the Sydney Swans' massive qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.
Mills missed his side's round 23 win over Richmond with a minor calf issue, but trained well late last week, and only needs to get through the Swans' main sessions on Tuesday and Thursday this week to prove his fitness.
The 19-year-old has had a standout season in defence for the Swans in his debut year, and is widely tipped as the man to beat when the Rising Star award is announced on Tuesday.
Coach John Longmire said Mills would fly to Melbourne for the award ceremony, and he wasn't worried about it affecting the first-year player's preparation for this week's final against the Giants, even if he took home the gong.
"No, that’s part of football," he said.
"I'm sure he's mature enough to handle a flight down to Melbourne and back, and hopefully he votes well.
"He's had a great year, he been fantastic at half-back for the whole year, which he's never done in his whole career.
"He's strong at the ball, he's really courageous – sometimes a bit too courageous for his own good, he's that hard at the ball.
"But he's also a very smart decision-maker and he's got a very mature approach to footy.
"He's been a fantastic addition for us this year."
The inclusion of Mills will strengthen a Swans defence that was ranked number one in the competition this year for points against, but it also means Longmire has some thinking to do at the selection table.
Harrison Marsh came in for Mills against the Tigers and was good across half-back in just his fourth game with 17 possessions at 82 per cent efficiency, so it might not be a simple case of swapping the pair this week.
Small forward Tom Papley and speedy utility Harry Cunningham could also be looked at, but whoever loses his spot in Longmire's 22 will be terribly unlucky.
Attacking defender Zak Jones returned in the NEAFL on Saturday to help the Swans reserves into the grand final against the Giants on Sunday, and he's also likely to come into the selection frame for later in the finals.
The 21-year-old hasn't played since injuring his ankle in the Swans' five-point loss to Hawthorn at the SCG in round 17, and there's no doubt Longmire would love to have his pace and kicking skills in the side.
Jones had 17 possessions and kicked a goal after sitting out the first quarter of the Swans' NEAFL preliminary final win over Aspley, and impressed with his aggressive attack on the ball and the opposition.
"(Zak) Jones was really good on the weekend," Longmire said.
"(Dan) Robinson (shoulder) played his first game on the weekend too, and he's been doing a lot of running.
"Those two are pretty fit but probably need another game before they come into contention."
The NEAFL grand final on Sunday will be the last chance for players to impress Longmire, and it means that injured ruckman Callum Sinclair (knee) and forward Sam Reid (Achilles) are unlikely to play again this season.
Both were put through a running program at the SCG on Monday, but unless they can train fully with the main group on during the week and get up for the reserves' decider, the Swans' would be taking a massive risk picking them for an AFL final.
Sinclair had knee surgery after going down against Carlton in round 18, while Reid hasn't played a game this season and had an operation on his troubled Achilles last month.
"We won't put them at risk," Longmire said.
"It would be great for them to play, but we're not going to put them in that position if they're not ready.
"We'll see how the week goes with Callum (Sinclair), we'll see how he trains.
"He's been running really well, so if he's able to train this week we'll certainly talk about it at the end of the week.
"Sam (Reid) is running really well, but we're just not sure whether he's going to have enough time this week to be able to play."