DUAL Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes wants to keep causing havoc in the Sydney Swans midfield rather than playing forward on a regular basis.

And Goodes is keen to take on more responsibility in 2009, whether or not he is promoted to the co-captaincy.

The Swans match committee has still to decide whether the club will maintain its three-pronged co-captaincy structure of recent years following the decision of veteran fullback Leo Barry to stand down.

Goodes was widely tipped to win election to the group last year, but defender Craig Bolton won the vacant position alongside Brett Kirk and Barry.

"I've always said I'd love to captain the football club, but at the same time, being captain or not, I'm still in the leadership group and I still have those same responsibilities as if I was captain," Goodes said on Tuesday.

"As a leader you've got to take a lot more responsibility at the football club and that's something I'm keen to do this year."

Although he produced a career-best eight-goal haul against Fremantle late last season from a forward position, Goodes was adamant he wanted to maintain a place in the midfield.

"The midfield is where the game is won or lost and I think my desire is still to be in the midfield running about causing a bit of havoc," Goodes said.

"Hopefully at times I can push forward and have a little breather and kick some goals, it's something I've always wanted to do.

"But at the same time, I'm fit enough, I'm strong enough still to be running around the midfield and that's where I'd really like to be playing."

The 29-year-old Swan said he was feeling good both mentally and physically after a double hernia operation last September and expected to be available for the Swans' second pre-season game.

Forward Ryan O'Keefe was re-elected to the club's leadership group in what might be seen as a vote of confidence in his commitment to the club after he failed in his bid to get traded to Carlton.

"I don't think I ever lost their faith, but it's always good to see that the boys have been behind me, which is something that I'm very grateful for", O'Keefe said.

Swans coach Paul Roos said he expected to field up to 12 regular senior players for the club's opening NAB Cup fixture against Port Adelaide on February 22 in Canberra.

"It will be a 50-50 mix of experienced guys and young guys," said Roos, who expected Kirk to be in the squad for the first pre-season match.

Sydney's nine-man leadership group included four newcomers, veteran midfielder Jude Bolton and three of the younger generation, Jarred Moore, 22, reigning best and fairest winner Jarrad McVeigh, 23, and Nick Malceski, 24.