Returning Swans defender Nick Malceski says a positive attitude has been paramount to his faultless rehabilitation and speedy inclusion back into the Swans line up.

Malceski will take the field for the Swans in Sunday’s big clash at the SCG against Hawthorn, 79 days after LARS surgery on his right knee.

“At the start I was very positive, even when I did it. I’m absolutely positive in the knee and I’ve done all of the rehabilitation,” Malceski said. 

“I think that is the thing that got me through most of my rehab. I’ve stayed positive and have really enjoyed attacking the rehab and it’s paid off.

“I’d say that I’ve worked quite hard to get to where I am now and everything has gone my way so far, so I’m just really positive about it,” he said.

Malceski, who played just over a half of football with the Swans reserves on Saturday against the Gold Coast, says his fitness won’t be an issue in his return to senior football after completing what he describes as ‘two preseasons’. 

“Before the injury I had a big preseason, probably the best one I’ve ever had.

“I played a couple of games and in the end I only missed about two and a half to three weeks of actual running. During the rehab, I’ve got smashed with my running again.

Speaking to the media today, the positive thinking Malceski seemed far more concerned about the potent Hawthorn attack featuring the likes of Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Jarryd Roughead that he will face on Sunday.

“They’re a great team and we’re going to have to bring our A-game to stop those blokes and it’s going to have to be a team effort.

During his frustrating stint on the sidelines, Maceski said he had been impressed with the form of the Club’s younger brigade. “They’ve been great and a lot of the young blokes have stepped up and are playing really good footy and are helping the older blokes play better footy,” he said.