Sydney Swans gun midfielder Josh Kennedy won't be wrapped in cotton wool to protect him for the finals after being cleared of a serious hamstring complaint.
Kennedy, who is considered one of the leading chances to win the Brownlow Medal, came off the ground early in the second quarter of last Saturday's AFL home win over St Kilda.
"His hamstring is tight, he's got a little bit of fluid on the outside of his hamstring but there's no tear in there, so that's a really good sign," Swans coach John Longmire said.
"It would be fair to say we're not going to put him at risk this week.
"If he's not any good at the back end of the week, he won't play."
Missing next Sunday's match against Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium would end Kennedy's current club-leading streak of 127 games.
However, Longmire made it clear he wouldn't be tempted to keep him out of the final-round fixture against Richmond the following weekend so he would definitely be available for the first week of the finals.
"If he doesn't play this week, it will only be one week," Longmire said.
"He feels fine today, so it's a good sign."
Longmire said another midfielder, Craig Bird, was also unlikely to miss more than one game after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament knee injury on Saturday.
He added that key forward Sam Reid was still a little bit sore from the weekend and would be monitored during the week, but midfielder Dan Hannebery was okay after suffering a minor knock against the Saints.
Longmire thought Ben McGlynn was likely to be out for one more week with his calf strain, but said defenders Nick Smith and Rhyce Shaw were each a big chance to return this weekend and would be the logical replacements for Kennedy and Bird.
He stressed ladder leaders Sydney wouldn't have any problems getting up to play the lowly Bulldogs, especially as a win would likely cement a top-two spot.
"As as a motivation factor, we've got a lot to play for and we'll be going absolutely flat out this week," Longmire said.
"It's an important game for us this week."
Longmire was pleased with the efforts of his youngsters, with seven of the 22 who played against the Saints having played fewer than 50 senior games.
"There's a number of younger kids that have come in that haven't played a whole heap of senior football ... and done a good job for us," Longmire said.
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