Sydney coach John Longmire has indicated he is likely to make changes to the team that was mauled by Hawthorn last week but has ruled out rushing back key midfielder Kieren Jack.
Jack hasn't played since straining ankle ligaments in the loss to Carlton in Round 6.
While the Swans were able to cover his absence in wins over the struggling Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs, Jack's thrust through the middle of the park was sorely missed in the 46-point thrashing at the hands of the Hawks on Sunday.
Longmire said he was desperate to have the club's 2010 best and fairest winner back on deck for Saturday's crucial clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium but he wasn't about to take any unnecessary risks.
"I was hoping he'd be knocking on my door this week but he's not right, fingers crossed for next week," the Swans coach said before training at the SCG on Tuesday.
"I'm not going to get to the stage of pushing him too hard as keen as I am to get him into the team."
"His speed, everything he's got is what we want but the reality is the injury he has is very temperamental and you don't want to push it too much because you might push him over the edge and he'll be out for more weeks."
"He's running at the moment but his next test is when he starts doing his agility work which we hope will be next week."
While Jack is still at least another week away, the Swans may include youngster Lewis Johnston for his AFL debut against the Kangaroos.
Johnston, who was the 12th overall selection in the 2008 draft, has been in strong form in the club's reserves over the past couple of weeks and appears set for his first senior game.
Recruited as a forward, the 20-year-old has fulfilled a defensive role in the reserves and his utility value is seen as a huge asset for the Swans.
"He's been playing all his football this year down back, apart from last week when he played half-back and half-forward," Longmire said.
"We put him down back as part of his education process and we're so pleased with the way he's gone about it, he's been fantastic."
"He's really learned another part of his game that he probably didn't know much about before."
"We do have the flexibility of bringing him forward and we're confident he can play as a defender as well as a forward now."
"This time last year we could only say we hope he goes okay as a forward."
Ruckman Mark Seaby, forward Trent Dennis-Lane and young midfielder Brett Meredith are also in contention for a spot against the desperate Kangaroos.
"I know North Melbourne reasonably well and when they get criticised, they'll come out the next week and give their best effort," Longmire said.
"So we expect that and we weren't happy with our effort either. We need to turn that frustration over our poor effort into a good effort this week."