Sydney recruit Taylor Adams will miss next next Thursday's season opener against Melbourne after the ex-Magpie suffered a mild knee strain in his side's practice match defeat to Brisbane.
Adams did not see out the 25-point loss after suffering the injury in a tackle from Lion Cam Rayner, with Adams' legs caught under the Lions youngster when the pair went to ground.
The Swans veteran made his way off the field and was in the hands of trainers shortly after, with the club revealing the 30-year-old had suffered a suspected "mild medial ligament strain".
However, the Swans' early optimism had evaporated by Saturday morning when scans showed that Adams would be required to spend three to four weeks on the sidelines.
The injury means that Adams will miss not only Sydney's Opening Round fixture against the Demons, the former Magpie will also be forced to sitout a homecoming clash against Collingwood at the MCG in Round 2.
Initially speaking after the game to media, Sydney assistant Jarred McVeigh claimed the club remains hopeful the injury won't keep Adams out of action.
"He got a knock to his knee so we played that conservatively. He's still clearly a chance for next week," McVeigh said.
The Swans have a week's turnaround until their Opening Round encounter with the Demons - a match they're already without senior midfielders Callum Mills and Luke Parker. due to injury, with the Swans announcing on Saturday that the latter would also miss the first month of the year with a broken arm.
Exactly what the Swans didn't want to see, with recruit Taylor Adams appearing to hurt his leg and coming off the ground.
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Former Melbourne onballer James Jordon stepped up in their absence, recording 31 disposals, nine marks and four clearances against the Lions, while reigning best and fairest winner Errol Gulden was also a standout for the Bloods.
"The whole pre-season he's flown under the radar. He just goes about his business," McVeigh said of Jordon post-game.
"He works extremely hard, he trains extremely hard. We've been super rapt with the way he's gone and hopefully that leads him into a big season for us."
The short turnaround could see Adams miss his side's first game of the new season and potentially make his club debut the Friday after against his old side. Adams requested a shock trade to Sydney during the recent off-season after a decade with Collingwood.
Jordon's club debut looks set to come against his former club at Opening Round, with the young ball winner moving north via free agency, joining Adams, Brodie Grundy and Joel Hamling as new recruits in the red and white.
Grundy - who recorded a game-high 27 hitouts on Thursday night - is in line to face both of his old club's in the opening two weeks of the season.
Sydney will host Melbourne at the SCG next Thursday night before heading to Melbourne to face the reigning premiers on Friday, March 15 at the MCG.