SWAN Callum Sinclair has recovered from an infected foot and looks set for a showdown with former ruck partner Nic Naitanui when the Swans welcome West Coast at the SCG for the first time since 2010 on Saturday afternoon.
Sinclair was a late withdrawal from the Swans team that lost to Adelaide by 10 points last week, but trained on Tuesday and moved freely again on Thursday morning before coach John Longmire closed his session to the public.
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The 26-year-old was forced to play a secondary role behind Naitanui in his three season in the west, and jumped at the opportunity to head to Sydney in a straight swap with speedster Lewis Jetta, who had requested a move back to his home state at the end of 2015.
Longmire said Sinclair's ability to play as a genuine ruckman and a key forward will add enormous flexibility to the Swans line-up, but admitted his recruit would need to be at his best to counter West Coast's 2012 All Australian.
"Naitanui is one of the premier ruckman in the competition and his centre bounce stuff is extraordinary," Longmire said.
"His ability to get his hand on the ball and allow the West Coast midfielders to get proactive on a consistent basis is quite unique.
"We understand the strengths that he's got and particularly that midfield group, but we're confident our midfield group and our rucks can give a really good contest in that part of the ground, and hopefully give our boys a bit of a look at it as well."
In further good news for the Swans, Longmire said that co-captain Kieren Jack would also be free to take on the Eagles, after a head knock forced him off the ground during the opening term of the game against the Crows.
Jack had a concussion test and was cleared to return to the field in Adelaide and played out the rest of the match without incident.
The 28-year-old will play a key role against West Coast, with gun onballer Matt Priddis fit to face the Swans after missing last week's win over Richmond with a groin injury.
"He (Priddis) is obviously a Brownlow medallist and as (West Coast coach) Adam Simpson said last week, a real spiritual leader of their club," Longmire said.
"His ability to be able to get his hands on the ball and play a really good, hard, strong brand of contested footy is well respected across the competition and certainly by us.
"He adds a lot to them, no question.
"Our midfield group has been in reasonable form and against their midfield group that has also been in pretty reasonable form, and will be strengthened by Priddis coming back, it's a really important battle.
"They've been very good, they're a strong team, they've got a great balance across the board.
"They haven't got many weaknesses and they're a quality team.
"They've got an unbelievable forward line, a super midfield and a really well-structured, organised defence."
