COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley has backed Dane Swan to return to his best on Saturday night against Geelong at the MCG.
Buckley said the 2011 Brownlow medallist was building towards peak performance after an interrupted pre-season.
"You'll see a sharp spike in what 'Swanny' produces this week," Buckley said.
"He is a proud footballer. He's one of the most consistent players to play the game in the last five or six years."
Swan spent time forward and in the midfield against the Sydney Swans. After a quiet start to the game he was influential in the second half, winning key contests, kicking a goal and providing a third option inside 50.
Buckley said Swan was working his way into the season and adapting to his role as the Magpies continue to experiment with its midfield mix.
"He's had an interrupted pre-season coming off his wrist [injury]. He has been able to get a lot of aerobic work in but that burst from the packs that we have come to know from him so much - that is on its way back,” said Buckley.
"He has got three or four games under his belt now and he is well and truly due to find that strong running that we love to see."
Swan's role has attracted plenty of attention with questions being raised about his fitness. But Buckley said the 30-year-old was present at more centre bounces than any other Magpie against the Swans and he expected him to play a similar dual role this weekend.
Buckley also backed Luke Ball, another Magpie to attract recent criticism, and said Scott Pendelbury would be fit to play against the Cats, despite training indoors after copping a knock on his lower leg which caused him to roll his ankle.
The Magpies will be without injured defenders Nathan Brown and Ben Sinclair, with Buckley indicating Lachlan Keefe was likely to take Brown's position.
Alex Fasolo is in the mix to replace Ben Sinclair after some impressive performances in defence in the VFL.
Fasolo, who recently agreed to terms with Collingwood to remain at the club until the end of 2016, is being tried in defence after missing most of 2013 with a foot injury.
He has not played a senior game since round five, 2013.
"[The move to defence] is as much for his [Fasolo's] development as anything else. If he is going to be the player that we think he can become, he has to add that defensive element to his game," Buckley said.
