Sydney will await a verdict on veteran Sam Reid's fitness in the coming days before a call is made on the swingman Swan's prospects of playing in the 2022 AFL Grand Final.
Reid suffered an adductor injury against Collingwood in Saturday's preliminary final win, the only noted ailment in the match for the Swans.
Having rejuvenated his career in 2022 after seasons of battling both injury and form, Reid's rise is one of several gripping storylines that have seen Sydney close in on a grand final berth.
The 30-year-old forward is now in some doubt to play in next Saturday's season decider against the Cats, with Sydney senior coach John Longmire potentially needing to sort through his stocks and make a change to face Geelong.
The most likely name that might've been handed a spot in the grand final was recruit Peter Ladhams, who has impressed crossed the course of this year in sharing the ruck duties with Tom Hickey in his first year as a Swan.
A three-game VFL suspension has seen Ladhams squander his chances of a premiership medallion this season, only narrowing Longmire's options to replace Reid.
Versatile tall Joel Amartey now sits among the handful of options to get the call up despite having just 13 games to his name.
Amartey has featured for the Swans on six occasions in 2022, averaging seven disposals, two marks and booting five goals for the year as a ruck-forward option.
The second name that will be in contention alongside Amartey is fellow key-position youngster Hayden McLean, who is also capable of featuring at either end of the ground and as a pinch-hitting ruckman like Reid.
McLean managed eight games in 2022 for a return of 10 goals, however his last appearance came in Round 8 against the Suns.
The Sandringham product has booted five goals in three games against the Cats, four of which came in a win at the SCG last year.
Preliminary final medical sub Braeden Campbell wouldn't be a like-for-like replacement for Reid, and may hold his role as the fifth interchange option for the grand final.
Campbell was one of four emergencies for Saturday's match, with senior defender Harry Cunningham, uncapped backman Will Gould and the aforementioned McLean all in the 26-man squad.
Given Geelong's strengths in their key position depths, the Swans are unlikely to look toward a Campbell or Cunningham to replace Reid.
The duo will be among the medical sub options for Longmire to consider however, along with fringe forward Sam Wicks.
While not seen as no chance to make his debut in the grand final, the Swans are unlikely to roll the dice on Gould despite his stellar season in the VFL this year.
The medium-sized defender earned Team of the Year honours in the second-tier competition this year, where he averaged 18.8 touches and 6.1 marks.
The situation at Sydney - should Ried be ruled out - is sure to see one young Swan earn a promotion in the premiership-deciding weekend.
