Swans coach John Longmire said the duo’s return would provide a significant boost for the Swans this weekend.

“It’s good to have two players back in who have played a fair bit of senior footy over the last couple of years and who are important to our team and to our structure,” Longmire told SwansTV.

“Nick Smith is a key player for us down back and plays on a lot of the opposition’s dangerous smalls, which Adelaide have got a few.

“Reidy comes back into the team as a forward who gives us a real focus point up front.

“They’ve only missed the week so hopefully the (week off) has freshened them up and they should be feeling pretty good.”

Swans key defender Heath Grundy will miss this week’s final due to suspension, while Tony Armstrong is the unlucky player who will make way for Smith’s return.

Longmire said he had been impressed with Armstrong’s recent form, including last week’s effort against Geelong.

“Tony was a bit stiff to miss out,” he said.

“We thought last week he did a role for us and was one of our better ball users but obviously with Nick Smith coming back in we needed to make some changes so Tony was a bit unfortunate.

“He is not far away from the mark and has been OK for us.”

In the absence of Grundy, Longmire said that the versatile Lewis Robert-Thomson would take his role in the backline this weekend.

“Obviously Heath is an important player for us and has played really well for us down back, but we’re fortunate to have Lewis Roberts-Thomson who has played a fair bit in defence and that’s a role that he’ll get this week,” Longmire said.

“He’ll be able to go down back and hopefully play well.

“We know that Adelaide have a couple of key dangerous talls that we’re aware of and Lewie will get a role down back this week.”

Just days before the Swans’ first taste of finals action this year, Longmire said there is an air of positivity around the club.

The coach said he believed the team will enter Saturday’s match in strong form following a tough month of football.

“As you’d hope coming into your first final, the mood around the place has been pretty upbeat, as I’m sure it is in Adelaide,” he said.

“It’s that time of the year that you just love to be playing and we’re fortunate enough that we got ourselves in a position to still be playing at this time of the year.

“The players are upbeat and looking forward to it. We feel as though we’ve played some strong finals-type footy over the past few weeks and hopefully that holds us in good stead.”

Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans
2nd Qualifying Final
Saturday September 8, 2012
2.45pm ACST?
AAMI Stadium, Adelaide

B N.Malceski, T.Richards, L.Roberts-Thomson
HB R.Shaw, A.Johnson, M.Mattner
C J.McVeigh, K.Jack, D.Hannebery
HF J.Bolton, S.Reid, R.O'Keefe
F T.Walsh, A.Goodes, M.Pyke
Foll S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, C.Bird
I/C L.Jetta, B.McGlynn, L.Parker, N.Smith
Emg T.Armstrong, M.Morton, J.White

In: N.Smith, S.Reid
Out: H.Grundy (Suspension), T.Armstrong