The one threatening injury cloud over the Sydney Swans is clearing, with defender Nick Malceski's hamstring issue unlikely to prevent him playing in Friday week's AFL preliminary final.
The 10-season, 174-game Swans stalwart was substituted at quarter-time of last Saturday's qualifying final win over Fremantle.
The victory earned Sydney a week off and bought 30-year-old Malceski extra time and the chance to maintain his record of playing every game this season.
Sydney coach John Longmire said the hamstring problem was even less worrying than the one that kept Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy out for two games.
Malceski's scan showed no muscle tear and a little fluid on the outside of the muscle.
"His hamstring is fine, he's got a bit of minor swelling there but nothing major at all," Longmire said on Monday.
"He feels really good and at this stage he's looking to run next Monday, train next Wednesday and be available to play next week.
"It's worked out really well to be able to have the weekend off."
Longmire said all of his other players were in pretty good nick after a tough game against Fremantle.
Malceski's positive diagnosis means Sydney could again field their strongest available side on Friday week, a luxury they never had in last year's finals.
"That's important to have the majority of your list available and that doesn't always happen," Longmire said.
Longmire will travel to Melbourne to scout Friday's semi-final between Geelong and North Melbourne, the winner of which plays Sydney at ANZ Stadium the following Friday.
Predictably, Longmire expressed no preference for a preliminary final opponent, though Sydney experienced contrasting fortunes in SCG clashes with the two clubs.
The Swans recorded their biggest win and score of the season against the Cats, while suffering their heaviest loss and lowest score of the campaign against the Kangaroos.
Longmire said Sydney would have a solid workout on Thursday and would also train on Saturday.
He stressed there would be no changes to Sydney's normal routine as they prepared to play in a preliminary final for a third straight year.
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