SYDNEY SWANS coach Paul Roos expects Amon Buchanan and Nick Malceski to push for selection this week for the vital clash against Geelong while Leo Barry might just be another week away.
Buchanan has served a four-week suspension for his indiscretion in the clash with Hawthorn in round 15, and Malceski made it through the Swans reserves' victory in the ACTAFL on the weekend unscathed.
Barry has also been training now for a number of weeks since injuring his hamstring against Carlton in round 16.
“Obviously Amon is going to be fit, Malceski played on the weekend and looked pretty good and Leo… we're not too sure,” Roos said on Monday.
“When you've done hamstrings in the past you're always a little bit wary of not doing them again because you don't want to miss four or five weeks,” Roos said in reference to his key defender.
“He's (Leo Barry) been able to do a fair bit of running over the past couple of weeks but he just hasn't felt comfortable enough to extend himself at training.
“This time last year he did a hamstring and missed five weeks. We don't want that to happen again.”
Roos said the important aspect for the side was to hit some form running into the finals after just getting over the line against Freo at the SCG on Saturday night to keep a grip on a top-four spot.
“You want to be playing well going into the finals regardless of whether you finish eighth or fourth,” Roos said.
“There's no point limping into the finals with poor form or a lot of injuries.
“The concern at the moment is we played some good footy on the weekend and we've got to play some more good footy against Geelong.
“It's possible to play well and not win against Geelong because they're such a good team.
“We're certainly going out there with a bit more confidence than we did leading into last week.”
The Swans coach joked that the key to beating the Cats was to ensure they left some key players back at Skilled Stadium.
“They're worried about the surface,” Roos said. “I'm hoping (Geelong coach) Bomber (Thompson) might leave about a dozen of his players at home. That might be the key to it,” he said.
On a more serious note, Roos believes that pressure is the key to defeating last year’s premiers.
“You've got to put pressure on them. Their skill level is by far the best in the competition so if you're not prepared to put any pressure on you will get beaten," he said.
“They had 469 disposals on Friday night. If they have 469 disposals on Saturday night they'll kick another 24 goals because they use the ball so well.
“They're a physical side. They're big and strong so you can't try and play an outside game against them."
