Dan Hannebery will captain Sydney in their AFL clash with Gold Coast at the SCG, where Josh Kennedy is a late scratching for the hosts.
Kennedy, who has been one of the Swans’ best in their recent resurgence, is nursing a tight quad.
“We gave him every chance … last night we expected him to play but he was a little bit tight this morning,” Sydney coach John Longmire told the club website.
“He is too big a risk so he is out and Dan Robinson comes into the team.”
It will be the first time vice-captain Hannebery leads the Swans.
Sydney, who started the season with six straight losses, will clamber into the top eight if they defeat the Suns on Saturday.