The Swans’ defensive stocks have been bolstered ahead of Saturday night’s semi-final showdown with North Melbourne.

Nick Smith, who has missed the past two weeks after straining his hamstring against St Kilda in Round 22, has fully recovered and will line up for the cut-throat final at ANZ Stadium.

The 27-year-old, who has averaged more than 16 disposals and three rebounds a game in 2015, is a handy inclusion with the Kangaroos possessing an array of small forwards including Brent Harvey, Shaun Higgins and Robbie Nahas.

Smith replaces the injured Sam Reid who tore his hamstring in the Swans’ 10-point qualifying final loss to Fremantle.

Swans coach John Longmire, Speaking for Centrum Team Selection, says Smith’s experience and leadership will be crucial, not just for the back half but the entire playing group, for the team’s biggest game of the season.

“He’s a very important player for us, he’s an All-Australian defender so he gives us great leadership and he’s a terrific player,” Longmire said.

“He’s done all the training required of him, he ran really hard during the week so he’s right to go.

“It’s never any question with Nick, he’s very good in that regard. He’s a terrific leader around the football club and a quality person so we know he’s done everything possible to get himself right.”

Co-captain Kieren Jack, recovering from a medial strain, was a slender chance during the week to play pending a final fitness test on Thursday.

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After running some laps and completing sprint work, the midfielder joined training but left the track early.

“He was looking okay and was close, but we just didn’t want to risk him getting injured in such a cut-throat game,” Longmire added. “But the good sign is he was very close.”

The Swans have won eight of the past nine finals encounters at ANZ Stadium, including two against North Melbourne, the last ending in a 71-point win against the Kangaroos in last year’s preliminary final.

Click here to see the full team.