The 31-year-old, who will make his return in Saturday night’s NAB Cup clash against Gold Coast after overcoming a calf injury, said the next three weeks will be more than enough time to ensure he is in top shape ahead of the season opener.
“It’s been a while; I haven’t played since the Grand Final, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there with the boys and hopefully getting a win up,” Shaw said before Thursday morning training.
“We’ve been training pretty hard and a couple of the old boys have been in and out of the side and I think they know their bodies pretty well and I certainly know mine, so I know two games and then a bit of a break before round one is perfect for me.
“It definitely doesn’t take as long to get back into shape as it does when you’re younger, but I’m really confident in my preparation and doctors and physios around us who have got us up and about.”
Shaw will be joined by a host of senior Swans this weekend, with fellow premiership players Adam Goodes and Nick Malceski also likely to make their return in Saturday night’s match.
Kieren Jack and Craig Bird are also expected to return for the Swans, as well as Jarrad McVeigh and Ryan O’Keefe, who were rested last week.
“We’ve got maybe seven blokes coming back in, but they are all experienced and are all pretty much in the same boat,” Shaw said.
“They know the ins and outs of the game and they’re all pretty fit, so I’m figuring it’s going to work.”
In the absence of many senior players, the Swans had the chance to put a number of young up-and-coming players to the test over the last fortnight.
Shaw said the likes of Tony Armstrong, Dane Rampe and Harry Cunningham showed they could step up to the plate while the team’s senior defenders were out with injury.
“It’s been really good I suppose having myself and Marty (Mattner) and Nick Smith out, it means we get to have a look at the next generation,” he said.
“Tony Armstrong has really put his hand up and has played some really good footy as well as Ramps (Dane Rampe) and Harry Cunningham.
“It’s been really good and is something you look forward to I think as a senior bloke trying to get these guys fast-tracked into the side, not at the expense of yourself of course, but we want to make sure the next generation is coming through and that we’ve got the right preparations.”
Shaw said he had been impressed with the improvement of the relatively inexperienced Swans side over the last two weeks, particularly in last Sunday’s clash with St Kilda.
“The first week was a bit of a shock to the system I think for the boys and I think we thought we were a bit ahead of where we were actually,” he said.
“The next game against St Kilda was a step in the right direction. We played some pretty good footy in patches and didn’t get over the line, but we looked pretty good.”
With an injection of senior experience for Saturday night’s game, Shaw said securing the club’s first NAB Cup win this weekend was vital for the team’s confidence ahead of the home and away season.
“(Winning) is important and it’s important for the confidence, especially before round one,” he said.
“We know Gold Coast are up and about and are a really good young side and as Horse (Swans coach John Longmire) said this morning, we play them in round two, so we play them pretty close together and it will be good to get a bit of confidence.
“If we can get over the line this week it will really help our cause.”
