Dropped Sydney veterans Ben McGlynn and Ted Richards have been given the time and opportunity to regain form before the Swans hit the AFL finals.

Key back Richards and forward McGlynn were the high profile omissions from the Swans side chosen for Saturday’s home game with Carlton.

Premiership player Richards, who is possibly in his final season, was used as a forward in the two matches he played after a spell on the sidelines due to concussion.

McGlynn, who has been plagued by soft tissue injuries over the past two seasons, was dropped after just one game back in the senior side.

“I think it’s probably the right time to help them find a bit of form,” Swans’ assistant coach Stuart Dew told AAP.

“Benny went back (to the reserves) a couple of weeks ago and played really well and Teddy also is really important to our plans going forward.

“We’ve seen he’s played forward a couple of times, but certainly he can play down back as well, so depending on matchups, he’s certainly still in the mix.

“Benny’s one (dropping) was really to find some form and get back into the side, because he is in our best 22 when he’s playing at his best.”

The Swans side chosen to face the Blues was a youthful one, with the average age lowered by the absence of their three oldest players, Richards 33, co-captain Jarrad McVeigh 31 (groin injury) and McGlynn 30.

The side contained four players aged 20 plus 19-year-old Callum Mills, with nine of the team having played under 30 games.

Following Saturday’s fixture, Sydney will play five more matches before what appears certain to be a seventh straight finals campaign.

With the scramble for ladder positions in the top eight finals spots so tight, Dew accepted Sydney’s four close losses could be costly for his club.

“They could be, but we can’t change it now,” Dew said.