Sydney’s stand-alone start to the AFL season will be unique in more ways than one, with the Swans and Giants both missing out on a weekend off after the pre-season competition.

In a break from tradition, Greater Western Sydney and the Swans will have their final pre-season hit-outs one week prior to the first round of the premiership season, which starts on March 24.

All other 16 clubs will have an extra week off, as is the norm.

Swans coach John Longmire, whose charges remain in contention for the pre-season cup final after Saturday’s 17-point win over North Melbourne, admitted the rushed schedule had made it harder to prepare for round one.

However, Longmire doesn’t plan on sending out a second-string side for the Swans’ final pre-season match to give key players their usual break prior to round one.

“We feel as though we need to build the minutes up for the team. If you look at the game (against the Kangaroos), it was 102 minutes. Round one will be 125,” he said.

“So we need to gradually build up and we’re hoping that in that last NAB Cup game – wherever that is – we get a really good hit-out with our senior players.

“And hopefully we’ve managed the workload in the previous three weeks.”

The second-year coach is confident his brain trust will be able to juggle the senior players’ time on the field to ensure they’re all primed for the clash with GWS.

Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy and Gary Rohan played their first game of the year on the weekend, while young gun Dan Hannebery has recovered from a knee injury and is in line to return on Friday against Essendon.

“Goodesy (Adam Goodes) will come back and we’ll certainly discuss Daniel Hannebery,” Longmire said.

“He won’t play the whole game but we’ll discuss whether he’s right to play, and Shawy (Rhyce Shaw) will also come back into the team.”

Marty Mattner and Jarrad McVeigh could be rested for the game against the Bombers, which the Swans must win to stay in contention for the pre-season decider.

“We’ll certainly discuss (resting) a couple of players, Marty Mattner, Jarrad McVeigh and a few others.

“But we’ve got to be mindful that, come round one, they’ll still have almost another quarter of footy to play compared to what they’ll have next week.”