Swans expect tough AFL rematch with Port

The last time Sydney faced Port Adelaide, Rhyce Shaw rated it the hardest AFL game he’d played all year.

And the Swans defender expects nothing less when the side’s clash again on Saturday.

The premiership favourites look set to welcome back injured stars Lance Franklin and Dan Hannebery for the match at Adelaide Oval, with both appearing to train freely and with minimal strapping on Thursday.

Midfielder Hannebery hasn’t played since the two sides met in round 13, when he hurt his ankle.

But Shaw, who returned against Essendon last week after a month out with a similar syndesmosis injury, said the All-Australian had been working hard to get himself fit.

“He’s got it right, he’s 100 per cent,” he said.

“I know he’s going to put on a good showing this week.

“You saw in the (2012) grand final what kind of impact he can have – I know that was two years ago, but he’s a fantastic player and he played well against last year.

“So to have him come in is just another asset for us.”

Franklin scored the Swans’ last five goals to beat the then ladder-leaders Power at the SCG in June.

Port Adelaide went on to lose four of their next six matches and now sit fifth.

Sydney, however, have only dropped one – against table-toppers Hawthorn a fortnight ago – to remain second behind the Hawks on percentage.

Regardless, Shaw is predicting another tough contest in front of a potentially sold-out crowd of more than 50,000.

“They’ve had a bit of a flat spot, but you can never underestimate them,” he said.

“We’re coming up against a well-drilled team, who run really hard and work hard for each other.

“We pride ourselves on those two facets of our game, so no wonder it was a great contest last time. It was probably the hardest game I’ve played all year.

“We’re looking forward to coming up against that again, especially over there, and getting the four points.”

The 32-year-old is off-contract at season’s end but said his future at the club was still “up in the air”.

“All that’s weighed up at the end of the year, and what the club wants to do and if my old body can get through,” he added.

“I can’t really say too much because I haven’t really thought about it.

“I’m looking to playing good footy towards the end of the year and into the finals. That’s all that really worries me.”

Asked whether he was concerned about the recent viral meningitis outbreak at Port Adelaide, Shaw joked: “I lived with my brother (GWS star Heath Shaw) for 15 years, he’s the most unhygienic bloke I’ve ever met, so I should be sweet.”

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