INJURED Sydney Swans Mark Seaby and Craig Bolton face a race against time to return to senior football this year with coach Paul Roos conceding there is a chance they might not make it back before season’s end.

However, Roos said the pair’s rehabilitation programs were progressing well and he remained confident they would be ready to play at some stage in 2010.

Key defender Bolton suffered a strained achilles tendon against West Coast in round five, while ruckman Seaby broke his ankle in the opening minutes of the round-six clash against the Brisbane Lions.

In an encouraging sign, Seaby was running laps of the SCG before training on Friday but Roos was reluctant to put any time frame on the duo’s possible return.

“It’s whether the season runs out and how much they’ve got to do before the season [ends] in terms of running and training and whether they’re ready to play,” he said.

“Their rehab’s coming along as expected; it’s just a matter of how many games are left for them to actually play.

“They’ve just got to make sure that they’re ready to go. If it means round 22, it’s round 22. If it’s round 19, it’s round 19.

“Players tend to get more worried about playing seconds and how many weeks before [they’re] playing, but the rehab staff and medical staff just get them ready and if the season runs out, they’re ready to go to pre-season in eight weeks after the season.”

Roos said Bradshaw’s recovery from a second knee arthroscopy this year was a different proposition, with an expected return in three to four weeks.

Despite the obvious frustration of missing his full-forward’s presence in an attack that has struggled to kick goals, Roos was philosophical about the former Lion’s injury woes.

“As a first-year coach, I’d probably be banging my head against the wall… but when you’re in your eighth year of coaching, you know things happen and you don’t worry too much about it, to be honest,” he said.

“Obviously we’re a better team with Braddy in; he’s a terrific player and he did really well early in the season. But the reality is he’s not playing and I trust my medical staff and rehab and fitness guys to get him ready and when he’s ready, he’ll be back playing.

“You can’t worry too much about who’s not there. That’s just the reality of footy. In my eighth year, I tend to focus less on that and more on those players who are playing.”