Next month crucial as slow-starting Swans try to explode from blocks after 0-6 start to 2017

AFTER a slow start cost the Sydney Swans in 2017 coach John Longmire knows his side must begin well this year. But he’s sweating on the fitness of several key players.

John Longmire needs his stars back in full training. Pic: Getty Images

SYDNEY will again sweat on the progress of its stars leading into Round 1 as many of its prime movers recover from off-season surgery.

Swans coach John Longmire said the next month of preparation would be critical to the club’s hopes of fielding its best possible Round 1 line-up.

Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin is easing back into full training after surgery on both knees and his ankle after the semi-final loss to Geelong.

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Captain Josh Kennedy is also making progress after knee surgery post-season and is ready to ramp up his training loads.

The Swans hope they will soon be joined by a group of stars including Kennedy, Sam Naismith, Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley and Heath Grundy.

Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy have both had knee surgery. Pic: Getty Images

If that group can accelerate their progress after various surgeries and ailments the Swans will hope they are available for the March 25 clash against West Coast.

But after a 0-6 start last year caused by a rash of injuries and freakish bad luck, the next month shapes as critical to the Swans’ fortunes.

The Swans rushed several players back last year in the hope they could make an early impact but some battled for form for months and Aliir Aliir and Kieren Jack were dropped.

Grundy hurt his foot in the finals loss to Geelong and Heeney had minor knee surgery in December but is just returning to full training.

“It’s always a little bit of scramble when you play finals year on year,” Longmire told the Herald Sun.

“Things like operations mean you are a little bit delayed in the pre-season so it’s a good problem to have but we have got to manage it.

Isaac Heeney had a pre-Christmas hiccup. Pic: Getty Images

“We have got a few of the senior boys who are yet to transition back into the program but hopefully it will happen in the next couple of weeks.

“It’s an important couple of weeks leading into the start of the JLT series.”

The Swans will rely on ruckmen Callum Sinclair and Naismith after the retirement of Kurt Tippett and might trial key defender Aliir in the ruck this year.

Tippett’s retirement after an ankle reconstruction leaves the Swans one short on their list but a financial settlement means they will not have to pay out his entire salary until 2020.

Franklin again had surgery after an operation to repair his shoulder the previous year but is moving extremely well despite his trio of surgeries.

“He had three operations at the end of the year, he had both knees done and an ankle but he looked after himself really well over the summer,’’ Longmire said.

“He is just back into training now and looking really good.”

Franklin turned 31 this week but has consistently put together huge seasons off limited pre-seasons and off-season surgery.

The Swans have already confirmed many of their stars will miss the club’s AFLX clash and have JLT Series games against Brisbane (March 3) and GWS (March 9).