Former skipper Jarrad McVeigh is yet to resume training after a significant tear to his quadriceps while Grundy and Smith, two of the club's most durable players, are also off the track. Integral members of the Swans' success under coach John Longmire, the trio have played 789 games between them, leaving behind a massive void in experience. Loading Grundy remains troubled by a back injury he suffered during the pre-season. The 32-year-old has not played at any level since round one - and there are doubts as to when he will play again. Smith, one of the competition's most reliable small defenders over the past 10 years, is still recovering after damaging a hamstring tendon last year in round 21. The veteran, who underwent surgery last year, had been expected to resume in the seconds this month.

"McVeigh, Grundy and Smith are still a number of weeks away," Longmire said. "They're not training yet. We don't expect them back any time soon." The club once boasted one of the most miserly and settled back lines in the league, which stood firm against at times heavy volumes of traffic inside their defensive 50. Though the Swans have conceded only one triple-figure score this season, their backs do not appear as steady as years gone by in the absence of Grundy, Smith and McVeigh, who are vital for their on-field instruction as well as their play. Callum Mills and Aliir Aliir have made promising starts to their careers but have now gone from junior members of the back six to more senior positions. All Australian backman Dane Rampe alluded earlier this week to how the changes had affected the chemistry of their defence.

Longmire said it was important to have the same group of defenders so they could build confidence playing with each other. Loading "That's something we'll look at with selection and make sure we don't change it too much - even though we understand players will be coming in and out of that," Longmire said. "Most teams are built from the back six and establishing a defence is really important and being able to play with one another every week is really important." Melican, who shapes as a long-term replacement for Grundy, is a likely in for the Swans as they combat the height of Jeremy Cameron, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson in the Giants' forward line.

The youngster impressed in his first season of senior football in 2017 when the Swans charged into the finals after a 0-6 start but played only one game last year due to injury. He was dropped in round two. "We put him into the reserves the last couple of weeks and he's been good, that's part of your development as well, it's not always onwards and upwards," Longmire said. "Sometimes you plateau a little bit and you gain confidence and come back into the team. We're confident he can still have a really strong season for us in the key defensive post." Tied up: the continued absence of Nick Smith is yet another blow to the Swans. Credit:AAP The club usually conducts their main training session for the week two days before a game but do not have access to the venue on Thursday due to the Anzac Day NRL clash between the Roosters and the Dragons.