John Longmire is an AFL coach dreading having to ask Sydney Swans great Jarrad McVeigh to prove his fitness with a run in reserve grade.
So hopes are that he won't have to.
"I haven't approached that with him yet," Longmire said of the prospect of McVeigh returning from a knee injury through the NEAFL.
"I might tiptoe around that. I might delay that conversation until I absolutely have to have it."
McVeigh hasn't played since suffering a knee injury in Sydney's semi-final loss to North Melbourne last season, but the 2012 premiership-winning co-captain is nearing a comeback.
The 30-year-old is likely to be available for selection for the Swans' round-three derby with the GWS Giants at the SCG.
"His knee's actually been quite good," Longmire said.
"We're yet to make a decision on him, whether it's next week or the week after.
"As long as his hamstring holds up well from training, whether it's next week or the week after, he's not far away."
Rather than have that difficult conversation, Longmire says he'd prefer to trust the 266-game stalwart to know when he's 100 per cent ready for a return.
"I mean, I've obviously known Jarrad a long time and he's a quality leader of this football club and he knows himself better than anyone," Longmire said ahead of Sydney's clash with Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
"We'll have the chance to have that discussion at some point and it won't be this week.
"It'll be on the radar next week what he wants to do, hopefully, if everything goes well this week at training."
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