Swans coach Dean Cox could potentially thrust key defender Tom McCartin back into the forward line this weekend against Port Adelaide as Sydney attempt to deal with a mounting injury list.
Key forward Joel Amartey was the latest to fall in Sydney's wounded side after suffering a hamstring strain in the second quarter of last Friday night's action against Collingwood, later revealed to be ruled out for 4-6 weeks.
Amartey's injury adds to the likes of Tom Papley, Harry Cunningham, Taylor Adams, Callum Mills and Errol Gulden.
With key defender Lewis Melican returning to the side and now the tall forward line stocks depleted, Cox said the Swans will consider continuing Tom McCartin's positional switch trial in the forward line or even Joel Hamling, who starred in the forward line at VFL level last season, with 31 goals from 17 games.
"That's something we have to look at," Cox said.
"Obviously, with Joel (Amartey) out of the team, whether you play Pete (Ladhams) there, whether you play Tom back there, Joel (Hamling) spent a fair bit of time in the VFL there last year, whether Logan's (McDonald) there - that's the dynamic we're looking at at the minute.
"We've got to make sure everyone gets through training first before we fully cement the path we want to go on."
Logan McDonald would be a welcome sight in the Swans' side this Sunday, but Cox said Sydney will be cautious as to whether they place him back in the team.
McDonald is recovering from a long-term ankle injury and has yet to play AFL this season, getting his first match under his belt in restricted minutes at VFL level last weekend.
It could be a risky call to make on the underdone forward, but it may alleviate the make-shift set-up the Swans are currently dealing with in the forward line.
"That's something we've got to look at again through the main session and then have a really good discussion," Cox said on Thursday.
"We're still three days out from a game, we'll look through everything. You know, one thing I've said is, I want to make sure that the players, when they come back in, can perform at AFL level. Logan's done a solid training block.
"We'll get all that data in front of us, and then make a decision from that in the next couple of days."
Cox also touched on captain Callum Mills, who is potentially just a week away from returning.
"He's building into a training block now, we know Callum's missed a lot of footy over the past couple of years. He trained solidly on the weekend," Cox said.
"Now it's an opportunity to build him in the next week or two - the exact week back, I'm not sure.
"That's the good thing with Callum is the volume that he's getting done suggests that he's on the upward trajectory. That's a good part about the program put in place is to get him back as quickly as possible, but also ready to go, so that when he is back, he can hopefully sustain it."
The Swans take on preliminary final opponents Port Adelaide at the same venue that booked their grand final trip in 2024.
Cox is wary of their form however, stating he was unsurprised by their ability to overcome the previously undefeated Hawks.
"I think what they've shown over a long period of time, certainly under Ken, is they play with a lot of emotion, and we don't expect anything different," Cox said.
"Knowing Ken briefly, it's a one wood of his coaching to get his players up and about. So, no, I wasn't really surprised. They played some phenomenal football.
"We've got to be ready for that."
