The Swans have stepped up their pursuit of Harley Bennell. Credit:WA Today

Sydney have stepped up their pursuit of injury-prone star Harley Bennell, with several Swans leaders contacting Bennell's former teammates for character references.

The Age has been told by sources close to the former Gold Coast and Fremantle playmaker that senior Swans – under the advisement of coach John Longmire – have phoned former teammates of Bennell to inquire about his professionalism.

Sydney believe they have the medical team to get Bennell, who has been plagued by calf injuries in particular, fit again and one of their final lines of investigation has been around his off-field behaviour.

Bennell's career was thrown into jeopardy when he was linked to alleged drug use after photos that had been taken in 2013, and sold to News Corp in 2015, emerged of him in a room with lines of white powder.