Both Sydney and GWS are expecting some handy inclusions for Saturday's derby qualifier, adding some forward craft and running power specifically.
Isaac Heeney and Tom McCartin were managed in Round 24 with no concern of missing any September action, though Tom Papley and Justin McInerney are the big stories.
Both Papley (knee) and McInerney (ankle) missed a big chunk of footy late in the home & away season, and have been qualifying final hopefuls during the two-week build-up to September.
Both seem set for a return, worryingly for Adam Kingsley's Giants.
"Papley, McInerney, McCartin, Heeney, they all trained today and all got through well, so hopefully they'll do the same again on Thursday," Sydney coach John Longmire said on Tuesday.
"I usually don't get too ahead of myself until the last training session's done, I sort of wait a little bit, I sort of kick that can down the road a little bit and make the decision after the last training session what it looks like.
"They looked all good today, hopefully they get through the training session on Thursday and they're ready to go."
Papley in particular is a dangerous proposition for GWS, with the amplified importance of small forwards in finals, where forward 50 stoppages often play a pivotal part in the results.
When he's on, he's up there with the best in the competition, and capable of chopping out some midfield explosive minutes also.
McInerney's run, kicking and work-rate will also add a critical cog to Longmire's machine going forward.
"We just focus solely on this week, who's available this week. They've been doing the training they've had to do over many weeks now, the last week, and they were able to ramp it right up knowing we weren't playing on the weekend," Longmire added.
"Again this week they've lifted it as well, they've missed a few weeks, but in Juzzy's (McInerney) case he's got great fitness, he's an elite runner, so it's just about how he feels around the ball and the contest and he's been doing all he can in that space and really enjoying that."
Veteran midfielder Luke Parker is also one to watch this finals series, being an established big game performer who has faced unique challenges this season, with suspension, questions over his place in the team and his position on the ground.
He's made himself a damaging front half player, mercurial with the ball inside 50, good overhead and at ground level while elite defensively.
Motivated by the chance to repeat the success of Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom last season - winning a second flag in more than a decade-long span - this finals campaign could bring out the best in the old Blood.
"He's important. To be fair he's probably had a terrific run for his career, he's hardly had many injuries at all. He's been able to get through, he hasn't been suspended like he was this year so there's some challenges this year that he hasn't faced but his ability to be able to come into the team and contribute as a forward and as a midfielder and play both roles over the last few weeks has been really valuable for our team," the Swans' coach said.
"He's also been terrific in the leadership space with helping out Millsy and helping out our forwards when he's there but also going on ball and doing what he needs to do there so he's been important for us."
"So we're looking forward to what he can do in the coming weeks."
