NEAFL Swans coach Rhyce Shaw has had to get used to his senior counterpart dipping into his talent pool of late.
John Longmire and co have rewarded Harry Marsh with an AFL debut, leaving Shaw and the NEAFL Swans without their in-form defender for the first time this season.
His patience and consistency over the past three seasons has finally paid off with Shaw wishing the No. 31 well against the Kangaroos.
"It's a real credit to him," Shaw said.
"For a guy to spend three years on the list, get delisted, get picked up as a rookie, put back on the senior list, then play senior footy - it's a great story.
"He's worked so hard to get to where he is. I'm just so proud of him."
Shaw has a job to do on Friday when his side clashes with Sydney Uni in the highly anticipated curtain-raiser at the SCG.
Recharged after enjoying the bye last weekend, Shaw is confident they can continue their unbeaten streak which before the break extended to 7-0 with a big win over Canberra at Manuka Oval.
It's a tough ask however with Sydney Uni well positioned in fourth on the ladder with a 5-2 record.
"I don't think the bye changes too much," he said.
"They've been training really hard, they've got a really good attitude.
"In our team meeting they were really keen to get out there and play. I don't think the week off with worry us we've just got to bring that same level of intensity and we should be right."
Despite losing Marsh, the NEAFL Swans still have 19 AFL-listed players named including Dean Towers, Toby Nankervis and Brandon Jack.
Sam Reid also returns to competitive football, having spent the season so far on the sidelines recovering from soft tissue injuries, while Jordan Dawson is back from injury as well.
The last time these two teams met at the SCG was in Round 12 last year with Sydney Uni coming away with a 75-point win.
See the full squad below.
NEAFL Round 9
Sydney Swans v Sydney Uni
Saturday, May 27
SCG, 4.10pm
B: Colin O’Riordan, Xavier Richards, Sam Reid
HB: Nic Newman, Tom Derickx, Lewis Melican
C: Jack Hiscox*, Tyrone Leonardis, Abaina Davis
HF: James Rose, Callum McFadden**, Sam Murray
F: Kyle Galloway, Toby Nankervis*, Dean Towers*
Foll: Sam Naismith, Jordon Foote, Jordan Dawson
Inter: Matt Wilson**, Jake Brown**, Aliir Aliir, Brandon Jack
Emer: Ryan Hebron**
In: Jordan Dawson, Jack Hiscox, Brandon Jack, Tyrone Leonardis, Sam Reid, James Rose, Dean Towers, Jake Brown
Out: Harrison Marsh, Gary Rohan, Will Gowers, Ned Reinhard, Harrison Carr, Nathan Cooper, Luke Skrivanic, Ryan Hebron
* Denotes senior emergency
** Denotes QBE Sydney Swans Academy top-up
