SYDNEY Swans defender Nick Malceski, who had reconstructive surgery after injuring his knee in February, is set to make his return via the Swans reserves side this weekend.

French surgeon JP Laboureau re-built Malceski's knee using an industrial-strength synthetic fibre instead of traditional methods.  

Swans coach Paul Roos says it's exciting to see the club's 2007 best-and-fairest runner-up making a rapid return from injury.  

"He has been training now for a week and a bit so we expect him to train this afternoon, train Wednesday and train Friday," Roos said on Monday.

"Providing he gets through all that, he'll play (reserves against Tuggeranong) on the weekend."

The reserves game is a curtain-raiser to Sydney's AFL clash with Essendon at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

"He (Malceski) has ticked off most things but he's got a little bit to do this week and hopefully he gets across the line," Roos added.

"He's pretty confident. There has probably been more trepidation from the medical staff and the coaching staff to be honest.

"He has been really positive through the whole thing. Every time I ask him how he's going, he says 'I feel great'.

"There's a bit of excitement, I guess. It's something new, something experimental, over in this country certainly.

"So there's a bit of excitement and a little bit of treading into the unknown this week."

Roos said defender Craig Bolton had recovered from a heavy knock suffered while playing for the Dream Team against Victoria in Saturday night's AFL Hall of Fame Tribute match at the MCG and would play against the Bombers.

Halfback Tadhg Kennelly, who missed the Tribute game with a hamstring concern, is also expected to play this week.

"It was good for all those guys (Victorian pair Adam Goodes and Ryan O'Keefe and Dream Team representatives Craig Bolton and Brett Kirk) to play ... with all the great players," Roos said.

"It's a special time. For guys who normally get tagged and have to drag around an opponent - like Goodes and Chris Judd and Andrew McLeod and Peter Burgoyne and all those sorts of guys - they got a bit of freedom and you expect them to get hold of the ball because they are all very, very good players.

"I'm sure if every coach had those two teams at their disposal, you wouldn't see too many taggers running around."