Midfielder Craig Bird is likely to reclaim his spot in the side for Sunday’s game against the Fremantle Dockers, after he was a late withdrawal against the Gold Coast Suns.

Bird was substituted in the round 15 loss to Adelaide after receiving a knock to the back of his knee in the third quarter, and didn’t make it on to the field against the Suns despite training well last week.

“Birdy was very close last week, he trained on the last session but they decided to just hold him back for one week. He’s going to fully train this week, no problem,” said Swans physiotherapist, Matt Cameron.

In-form veteran Jude Bolton has not been ruled out of playing in Sunday afternoon’s key clash with Fremantle but Cameron said his knee had to “settle’’.

Bolton missed his first match since 2005 last weekend after he jarred his knee in the pre-game warm-up and was a late withdrawal from the team which defeated Gold Coast.

Cameron told SwansTV that Bolton needed to take it easy this week if he is to be selected for the Dockers’ game.

“He had a scan on Monday which shows some bone bruising in that knee and that will need to settle down - and it should do maybe by the end of this week, or hopefully the week after,” Cameron said.

“We just need to sit on him for a while, just let that settle, and then he’ll go again.”

Trent Dennis-Lane could return to the field this week provided he can get through training.

Dennis-Lane was in line to be selected for the seniors last week but aggravated a foot injury before training last Thursday.

The news isn’t as good for young key position player Lewis Johnston who suffered an ankle ligament injury in the second quarter of last Saturday’s reserves game against Gold Coast.

Cameron reveals that the injury is similar to the one that felled Kieren Jack in round six against Carlton, but not as severe.

“It won’t be a super-quick recovery, but we’re hoping just a couple of weeks,” Cameron said.

Jed Lamb is expected to resume training this week, and Gary Rohan next week, as both recover from hamstring injuries.