MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN may have to wait an extra week or two before creeping closer to becoming the first player in the Swans' long history to play 300 games for the club.

O'Loughlin admits he is struggling after having off-season surgery to repair a troublesome right-ankle injury, a problem that cut his 2008 season at round 16, but says he wants to get the injury 100 per cent right before returning. About to embark on his 15th season with the club, the 32-year-old, who has played 286 games for the Swans, is the only player in doubt for Sydney's round-one clash with St Kilda on March 28.

"Mick is still taking some time, and we're not rushing him," assistant coach John Longmire said. "He had a big operation, and fortunately he's a pretty good touch player. He had a good pre-season last year so he's got a bit of training under his belt. We expect him to just ease into it. We're not going to rush him. He's still a number of weeks away. He's just getting moving now with his running."

Asked who might miss round one, Longmire said: "Mick is probably the only one with a question mark. However, we're still confident."

The grand final is 254 days away but the Swans were being pushed to leave sweat puddles all over the ground yesterday. With their home ground splashed in pink for the cricket, the Swans headed to Rushcutters Bay for their first training run of the year, and despite the thermometer vigorously pushing mercury uphill, the players showed they meant business after their two-week break.They had six weeks' training before Christmas, and after avoiding the indulgences of the festive season, their next break will be when their season ends.

"I think the players realise, come today, it's our full-scale preparation for the first pre-season game and then into round one itself," Longmire said. "We probably had a few more operations at the end of last year so there were probably a few players we've delayed with their pre-season but we expect most of them, by the end of this week, to be back in almost the full program. A lot have completed their rehab before Christmas and should be ticking the final boxes this week and into it next week."

There were handfuls of handshakes and "welcome backs" as the players gathered in the heat, but the smiles soon turned to the odd grimace as the session got under way. But unlike the old days, the first sessions back are not about running off the Christmas beer, turkey and ham.

"The guys are pretty professional these days. Guys looked after themselves, and we came back knowing we're going to have a pretty tough season," co-captain Brett Kirk said. "There's no easing back in any more. You're expected to do the program over the Christmas break and look after yourself, so we come back in expecting to have a pretty hard session today.

"I think everyone just really enjoys this time of the year. I know I do. There's not as much pressure on you as during the season. The sun's out, my body feels good, we're training hard, everyone flying at this time of year, everyone's in a great mental state. I really enjoy it."

Sydney must also sort out the captaincy issue in the pre-season. Leo Barry has stood down from his co-captaincy role, and the Swans must decide whether to replace him with Adam Goodes - to join Kirk and Craig Bolton as the third co-captain - or revert to the single-captain model.

Kirk believes the three-captain system, which has been in place since 2006, has worked well.

"We have different strengths and weaknesses and we complement each other," Kirk said.