PERHAPS more than any other AFL footballer, Sydney Swans veteran Jude Bolton can't stand missing games.

Bolton had played 145 straight matches dating back to 2005 before he hyper-extended his knee during the warm-up before the Swans' game against Gold Coast two weeks ago.

He was forced to withdraw from that game and then missed the following week's loss to Fremantle.

Swans coach John Longmire joked that he hadn't consulted Bolton before deciding to keep him out of the Freo match as he knew what the response would be - 'put me in coach'.

But at 31 and in his 13th season of senior football, Bolton knows he needs to be more cautious with his fitness.

And the veteran midfielder has now recovered and will make a welcome return to the field for Saturday's vital match against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG.

"Good to go this weekend. Disappointing I didn't get up for last weekend, but they felt it was in my best interests for the whole rest of the year to just be a little bit conservative," Bolton told sydneyswans.com.au.

"I'm just looking forward to being back playing this weekend.

"I don't like missing games at all, but I have to be a little bit smarter at the back end of the year.

"I don't want to come back for one and then miss a stack of games.

"It was actually good to sit up in the coach's box and see how it all operates up there and get involved in that way."

While he hates missing matches, Bolton is a keen advocate of the Swans' team-first policy and was pleased his injury at least gave Luke Parker an opportunity to play.

Named as an emergency for the Suns game, first-year Parker was rushed into the side to replace Bolton and responded well to his late call-up.

Over his past two games, Parker - pick No. 40 in the 2010 draft - has averaged 20 disposals, five marks and two goals.

"I just hyper-extended it a little bit and started getting a really sharp pain on the inside of my knee," Bolton said of his warm-up on the Gold Coast.

"It ended up being bone bruising. I've had a bit of a bad knee on that side for a while anyway, but this was just a different pain and thought I was going to be a little bit of a liability for the guys.

"So I thought it was in the best interests to not play. I don't like missing games, but it was great to see Luke Parker get a game and he's going from strength to strength."

Prior to his injury, Bolton's name had been frequently mentioned in All Australian discussions, an honour he has yet to achieve.

Bolton is flattered to hear that sort of talk, but is only interested in helping the Swans once again qualify for the finals.

"I thought I was contributing at times (before the injury)," Bolton said.

"I probably needed just a bit of consistency, but I want to finish my year off really well and make sure we get back on the winner's list this week.

"I just worry about week in, week out and making sure I contribute to the team.

"I can't control all that stuff (All Australian talk). It's good to be held in that sort of consideration at different times, but I'm focused on getting the team results."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL