AFTER grooming youngsters for the past two or three years, Sydney's kids are finally ready to step into the senior side and put pressure on some of those established stars who have had a mortgage on a first-team spot for several years.

Craig Bird - a true blue New South Welshman from Nelson Bay - and Jesse White are scheduled to make their senior debuts this year, and both have been very impressive in the pre-season. And the youngsters with some senior experience, such as Ed Barlow, Jarred Moore, Heath Grundy, Matthew Laidlaw, Luke Brennan and Kieren Jack, have all made a solid pitch to step up another level this season. But while the future is looking bright, once again much will depend on the established stars - Barry Hall, Brett Kirk, Peter Everitt, Ben Mathews, Leo Barry and Michael O'Loughlin - being at their best and injury-free.

Already, Everitt is battling after a knee operation and will miss the opening round, and Sydney took a huge hit with the loss - possibly for the season - of Nick Malceski to a knee injury in the NAB Cup. With three excellent ball runners - Malceski, Tadhg Kennelly and Martin Mattner - to bring the ball out of defence, Malceski's loss can be covered to a degree, but Everitt needs to be on the park with Darren Jolly for Sydney to be a force.

There have been some other promising signs in the practice matches with 2003 and 2006 Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes - who had a sluggish start to 2007 - already showing glimpses of his best form, while Hall and defenders Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Kennelly are all working hard and keen to put a season plagued by injuries behind them.

Home will once again be crucial - the Swans have an impressive 47-19 record in Sydney since Paul Roos took over in 2002 - as will the start to the season. Slow starts have dogged the Swans in recent years, but they have still managed to reach September.

With the benefit of a longer pre-season, look for a brisk start, which could - injuries and illness aside - have them better placed later in the season, not only for a run at the eight, but possibly the top four.