Sydney will likely welcome back superstar Chad Warner for Saturday night's clash with Adelaide, but coach John Longmire concedes resting players for the final-round fixture is a possibility.
Barring a defeat against the Crows and the most unlikely of percentage swings, the Swans will be 2024 minor premiers and host a home qualifying final.
After a sudden end of season form capitulation, the Swans have steadied with back-to-back wins against Collingwood and Essendon.
They will still be chasing their best form against the Crows at the SCG this weekend, along with an end to their first quarter struggles.
But after admitting that mental and physical fatigue had played a part in their run of five losses in six weeks, affording some players an extra week off ahead of the finals bye is possible.
"If they need it. Will's (Hayward) had a bit of a sore knee for a number of weeks. I was concerned about him last week, but he feels a bit better today," Longmire said.
"Brodie's had a big workload but we've been able to manage him during the week. He's had some time off and downed tools.
"You have to be mindful that it's about this week, there's also a bye the following week. You can go from too much to not enough, we have to get the balance right.
"You can't live in the space of 'you can't play half your team because they might get injured'. That's a dangerous place to live in."
Of the Swans triumvirate of midfield playmakers, only Errol Gulden has played through the whole season without a rest with Isaac Heeney missing a week with suspension and Warner sitting out Friday night's win over the Bombers with a sore calf.
Despite finals being just around the corner, the West Australian will likely be back though to face the Crows.
"He actually felt tight before the Collingwood game (two weeks ago), didn't say anything, played really well and only mentioned it after," Longmire said.
"So, we were really conservative with him last week and gave him the week off. He was keen to play, we said no.
"He trained today and trained really well. It's looking positive for him at the moment."
Both Tom Papley and Justin McInerney will miss this week but are on track for a return in the qualifying final.
The injured duo have trained this week, with McInerney said to be ahead of schedule from a PCL knee injury.
Their inclusions will apply a selection squeeze, with recruit Taylor Adams under pressure after being subbed out last week and a general quiet spell of form.
That looms as a close watch at the Swans come finals after Adams' heartbreak last year in missing Collingwood's premiership due to a hamstring injury.
"Just continue to show experience, leadership and put enormous pressure on around the ball," said Longmire on what he wants from Adams.
"Taylor's got great experience and that certainly helps."
The first-quarter conundrum is an issue the Swans are certainly out to remedy this week against Adelaide having gone into the first break behind in eight of their past nine games.
The only first quarter they've won in that time was against the 17th placed North Melbourne at home, and that was only a two-point lead.
"We still haven't cracked it because we haven't got it right. We've got to get better in our first quarters, there's no question about that," Longmire said.
"We better be ready this week when we jump out of the blocks because the other team will be and we need to match that."
Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows: How to Watch
Sydney aims to wrap up the home-and-away season with a third straight win as they face Adelaide on Saturday night at the SCG.
The Swans have nearly clinched the minor premiership following their 39-point triumph over the Bombers in their last game. This victory marked their second consecutive win against prominent Victorian teams, helping them regain their momentum as they approach the finals.
Sydney will be optimistic about securing another win, given their strong track record against the Crows, having won all five of their previous encounters. This includes a commanding 42-point victory earlier in the season, highlighted by Joel Amartey’s career-best nine goals at Adelaide Oval.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows in the AFL, plus plenty more.
There are several options to watch the Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows AFL game in Australia, including Network Seven, Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra, and Kayo Sports.
The best way to livestream the aforementioned AFL game is through Kayo with a seven-day free trial. It also does not have a lock-in contract or equipment fees, which means you can cancel anytime if you are no longer using it.
All you need to decide is whether you want to pick Kayo One at $25 per month (1 stream and up to HD), or Kayo Basic at $35 per month (two streams and up to 4K).
The game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 free-to-air TV and will also be available to watch on Fox Sports 3 with subscription. Triple M, ABC and AFL Nation will provide the radio coverage.
You can watch the game from wherever you are in the world by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service such as NordVPN/ ExpressVPN. A VPN will allow you to create a secure connection online when you are abroad on holiday or for work and you want to stream the game live.
If you are not sure which VPN to use or how to use a VPN, we have taken a look at the best options available out there for watching live sports - check out the best VPN services review here.
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to use a VPN to watch a game when you are overseas:
Team News
The Adelaide Crows have dropped Josh Rachele and Lachie Gollant, while Mark Keane has been ruled out for personal reasons. Veteran forward Taylor Walker has been named to return from an eye injury, while James Borlase, Billy Dowling, and Chayce Jones have been recalled.
Adelaide's performance last time out was severely affected after Izak Rankine was knocked out by Dan Houston, swinging the match's momentum. Rankine will miss this clash under the concussion protocol, while Houston has been slapped with a five-match ban.
The Final Word
The Swans will be looking to finish the season on a high, but it remains to be seen if John Longmire will rest any players before the finals. With a potential home qualifying final on the horizon, it's a decision that will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:40pm (AEST) at the SCG.
