SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos believes his team’s 65-point NAB Cup loss to Port Adelaide is indicative of where each team is at with their preparation for the season proper.

Roos said he expected the Power to present a stronger outfit for the Manuka Cup clash, having had more time to get their players fit after finishing last season without playing finals.

"We expected Port to come here with a strong team and be more than competitive, and it was a good chance to see where our guys are at, our mixture of younger and older guys," he said.

"Until you can get your full team together and get a few games under your belt – not  next week but the two weeks after – that will probably give us a clearer picture of where we're at.

"[Port Adelaide] were going to be a fair way further advanced than us, but we now need to use the next three weeks to get ready and prepare for the season."

Roos said he was impressed by a few of the Swans' young guns that played in the match, and was pleased they were confronted with such a tough ask.

"Jesse White when he went forward was better, because down back he struggled early, and I thought [Brett] Meredith when he came on after halftime [was good]," he said.

"The two ruckmen, 'Pykey' [Mike Pyke] and Jake [Orreal] did pretty well when you're talking about [Dean] Brogan and [Brendon] Lade, who are two quality ruckmen.

"Rhyce [Shaw] is not a young guy but he showed he's going to give us a fair bit down back once we can get our better players playing.

"There were some good signs from some young guys, and I think those guys would have learned today what AFL footy's all about.

Roos said the Swans will present a stronger outfit against Melbourne next week in a NAB Challenge match.

"We'll have most of the guys that didn't play today come back next week, so depending on how we get out of today, we'll be a fair bit stronger next week and the two weeks after that," he said.

He also said Ryan Brabazon, who was stretchered off in the third term after knocking himself out, was cleared of any damage to his shoulder.

Dream Team watch - Rhyce Shaw scored 74 Toyota AFL Dream Team points in the Sydney Swans loss to Port Adelaide in round one of the 2009 NAB Cup.