Sydney coach Dean Cox admits it’s exciting to have Errol Gulden back as the Swans prepare to land another blow to Brisbane’s threepeat dreams.

Gulden will be back for his first games since injuring his shoulder in the round one clash against the Lions, continuing the frustrating injury run that saw him play just 10 games in 2025.

However, Cox has suggested Gulden will not be held back as the Swans hope he can pick up where he left off.

“He’s put in a lot of work in, and we have really missed him,” Cox said.

“He’s an unbelievable footballer, incredibly hard working and a leader of this football club, so it’s really exciting to have him back.”

As expected, the Swans have recalled star defender Tom McCartin after recovering from injury, but have also pulled off a surprise by bringing in Peter Ladhams to support Brodie Grundy in the ruck.

Ladhams has played just one game this season in their 114-point demolition of Richmond in round 12, with forward Hayden McLean making way.

It comes as the Swans hope to pull off the double, having been comfortable 44-point victors in round one but will not be underestimating Brisbane on their home deck.

“We expect them to play the way they have the last three of four years, they are starting to build into that form and they have had a break to reset,” Cox said.

“It’s a tough spot to win (in Brisbane) and what they can do around the contest is as good as anyone, if not the best in the competition and we need to be aware of that.”

The Lions have made just one change with premiership defender Ryan Lester returning in place of Shadeau Brain as they hope to continue their rebound in form that has them stabilise in eighth place.

Coach Chris Fagan is adamant their hopes of a historic threepeat are not over, backing them to overcome an indifferent start to the year.

“I still think of the top eight, I suppose. I’m old-fashioned like that,” Fagan said on Wednesday.

“All I do know is if you want to be in a chance to win it, you’ve got to finish top six.”

Fagan admitted the Lions had been caught out by the Swans’ handball game in round one, something which they hope to nullify on Thursday.

“Well, it was a fairly long time ago,” Fagan said of the round-one loss.

“What’s emerged is the Swans have a fairly distinct way of playing the game. They like to handball, they run in waves, they handball forward and they overlap, and it’s been a weapon of theirs.

“That’s the critical thing you have to counter. We weren’t able to do that in the first quarter in that game.

“But we got better at it as the game went on. We certainly learned some lessons.”