After almost three months of rehab, Swans defender Nick Smith is finally getting back amongst the action.

The 24-year-old, who underwent a knee arthroscopy late last year, trained for the first time with the main group on Wednesday and is slowly increasing his workload.

The premiership defender told SwansTV his focus was to regain full fitness ahead of the 2013 AFL season.

“Straight after the grand final I went away overseas for a little bit, and then had to get an operation when I got back and had an arthroscopy on my knee,” Smith told SwansTV.

“The recovery is going pretty well and I had my first training session (this week) and I’m hoping to be OK for round one.

“I had a lot of off-legs training on the bike and on the slider and that sort of thing and then eventually I got into some running and then was eventually allowed to train for the first time.”

Smith trained for 20 minutes in the team session on Wednesday and will continue to ease his way back into the main group over the next few weeks.

Despite being relieved to finally be taking part in team training, the defender acknowledged he still had a long way to go to be ready for the season ahead.

“It was only a 20 minute session for me and I was pretty exhausted by the end of it, although it was only 20 minutes,” Smith said.

“It’s just a gradual  progression, so at the end of the week it will hopefully be 30 minutes and then up to 40, 50 and 60 minutes throughout the next sessions. I’m just trying to progress slowly I guess.

“I need to train for another three or four weeks before I can get into the real intensity of match practice.”

Smith has been in the rehab group alongside fellow defender Marty Mattner, who also joined the main session for the first time this week.

Smith said Mattner had been a great support through his recovery process, as well as co-captain Adam Goodes.

“It’s been good to run with someone that’s for sure. Goodsey was running a little bit with us as well,” he said.

“It’s definitely pretty frustrating when I’m running laps and you see the boys going into games and that sort of thing.

“I know Marty Mattner is maybe a few sessions in front of me as well and all of the boys are starting to get back, which is good and hopefully I’m not too far behind.”

Off the field, Smith has had plenty of success this pre-season, with the defender nominated for the 2013 Cleo Bachelor of the Year.

Smith said he was unsure who the culprit was who put his name forward.

“I knew absolutely nothing at all, but I’ve been copping a fair bit off the lads for it, so obviously one of them nominated me and I had no idea about it,” he said.

“I think Nick Davis could be responsible for it and I’m not too happy about it.”