THE future of Swans midfielder Nic Fosdike is at the crossroads as the 28-year-old weighs up whether to continue next season with a long-term knee injury that could significantly restrict his ability to train and play.

Fosdike, who did not attend the club's training camp on the Central Coast this week, played just one game last season after injuring his knee when he landed awkwardly during a pre-season training drill, and has not returned to full fitness since.

The former schoolboy champion middle-distance runner was noted for his stamina when he was taken by the Swans with the third pick overall in the 1998 national draft. The inability to train at full capacity threatens to rob Fosdike of the trademark ability to cover ground that made him one of the stars of the 2005 grand final victory.

"It's not a knee [injury] that will stop him playing necessarily, but it could have an impact on his ability to train and get up for games," Swans general manager (football) Andrew Ireland said.

"Whether he thinks he can get through is something Nic needs to weigh up and reach a decision on but, as far as it stands now, he's a contracted player for next year, and we'll just wait and see how it works out."

Complicating Fosdike's decision is the fact the Swans cannot simply pay out his contract for next year because it would count in last year's total player payments, pushing the club over the salary cap and putting it at risk of fines and other sanctions.

"He understands he's a contracted player, and there are a few complicated issues that go with the whole situation," Ireland said. "It's not like we can just pay him out, and I'm not sure he would want to just forgo the money he would get."

Meanwhile, the AFL's plan to have its western Sydney franchise as the 18th team competing in the competition in 2012 remains firm, despite reports it was getting cold feet.

"We're coming in 2012 and that's absolutely still the position," NSW AFL general manager Dale Holmes said yesterday. "We're really excited about it."