PREMIERSHIP defender Tadhg Kennelly is a late withdrawal with knee soreness from the Sydney Swans' squad ahead of Saturday night's match at ANZ Stadium against Collingwood.

The 28-year-old has played 10 of his 168 career matches this year, and his absence will be a blow to a Sydney side that hasn't beaten Collingwood since round 13 in 2005, a run of eight matches.

First-year player Gary Rohan has been added to the Swans' 22 in place of the 2005 premiership half-back flanker, with Ted Richards coming into the squad as an emergency with Lewis Jetta and Patrick Veszpremi.

The Swans sit in sixth position ahead of the round 13 clash, with all seven of their wins this season coming against sides below them on the ladder. Collingwood, held to a draw by Melbourne in its last outing on the Queen's Birthday holiday, enter the contest in fourth place.