Sydney Swans half-back Nick Malceski will face a test ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs after suffering a knock to the shoulder in last Sunday’s 47-point win over Richmond at the SCG.

Following a heavy clash with Richmond’s Ty Vickery in the opening minute of last weekend’s clash, Malceski briefly left the field to have his shoulder assessed, but was able to play out the remainder of the match.

Sydney Swans physiotherapist Matt Cameron said he expected Malceski would train later in the week and was optimistic the defender would be available for selection.

“He has a bruised shoulder and is reasonably sore, but he’s better today than he was yesterday and if he continues to improve he’ll be able to train on Friday,” Cameron told SwansTV.

“We’re pretty hopeful of him being about to play.”

With one game left to serve of a three-week suspension, Swans forward Ben McGlynn is expected to be available for selection for the round 20 clash with Collingwood at ANZ Stadium.

Cameron said McGlynn, who was subbed out of the Swans’ round 16 match with GWS at half-time with a hamstring injury, would resume team training this week.

“He had some bruising in his thigh, actually deep in his hamstring muscle and we’re always a little bit careful when that happens because you are at risk of actually straining the muscle afterwards,” he said.

“We’ve been bringing him back step-by-step and he’s due to join training this week.

“He’ll get a good week-and-a-half of training into next week when he returns from suspension.”

There is finally some positive news for the Swans’ rehab group, with Cameron confirming that Sam Reid, Adam Goodes, Lewis Jetta and Lewis Roberts-Thomson have all begun running programs this week.

“All four of those guys have started running on the treadmill,” Cameron said.

“Sam Reid is running outside, but Lewis Jetta, Adam Goodes and Lewis Roberts-Thomson have all been able to start running on the treadmill, which is good news because a week ago they were inside on the bikes.

“It’s good to have them all up and going now.

“We’re in the early stages and all four of them might progress at different rates from here, but they’re all positive and they are all racing to get back as early as they can.”

In other injury news, Cameron said the club is still weighing up their options for young defender Alex Johnson, after an arthroscope revealed the 21-year-old would require another knee reconstruction.

“Unfortunately Alex was getting some ongoing swelling in his knee and it was decided to do an arthroscope to take a look at what was going on and why it was continuing to swell,” he said.

“It appears that the graft of his anterior cruciate ligament repair has broken down and we’re not really sure how that has happened or why that has happened, but it needs to be redone now.

“We’re just investigating the best way to repair it or reconstruct his knee in order for him to get back and playing next year.

“We’ll have some information once we’ve gathered all our thoughts and opinions from people outside the club, as well as inside, and we’ll move forward then.”