Rhyce Shaw is set to miss Saturday's clash against North Melbourne with an abdonimal strain. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun
SYDNEY defender Marty Mattner says Saturday's clash against North Melbourne could be Tony Armstrong's chance to cement a spot in the Swans' line-up.
The Swans held a closed training session today, but Mattner revealed premiership defender Rhyce Shaw wouldn't take part.
Shaw's likely omission, after he suffered a lower abdominal strain during last week's win against Gold Coast, is a blow for the reigning premier ahead of the weekend's match in Hobart.
"But hopefully we get some young guys from the reserves who've played, like Dane Rampe and Tony Armstrong - who's played really well the last couple of weeks in reserves and been given a go in the NAB Cup," Mattner told reporters on Thursday.
"Hopefully they can step up and play."
Armstrong, who was traded to the Swans by Adelaide in 2011, played eight games last year and showed plenty of potential.
But he's been a fringe player due to the club's gluttony of riches when it comes to rebounding defenders.
Mattner said Armstrong, who started as a sub in the opening round against Greater Western Sydney but missed out last week, had worked hard in the reserves.
"This week could be his opportunity," he said.
"If you're not in the team you've got to play good reserves footy, and he did that the last week.
"He got the opportunity in the NAB Cup but you've just got to play good reserves footy and when you do get the opportunity - it might be this week - that he takes it with both hands."
Tony Armstrong at Sydney Swans training. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph
Mattner spent most of the pre-season in rehabilitation after having an operation on a hip injury which bothered him through most of last year.
The 30-year-old said he is feeling great.
"The last two weeks have been really good, really solid hitpouts," he said ahead of the match in Hobart.
Mattner said the Kangaroos' forward line - most notably Lindsay Thomas and Drew Petrie - would provide a real challenge.
"The midfield battle's going to be the big one, but also our defence is going to be massive as well," he said, adding that the Swans had enough depth to cover their biggest - and smallest - players.
"It's great having that flexibility, so if someone goes off the ground the other one can take him (Petrie).
"That ability, I guess, for the whole defence to be able to play on a variety of players and talls and smalls is the greatest thing that we've got at the moment."
Thomas and Petrie kicked a combined tally of nine goals in North Melbourne's last-start four-point loss to Geelong.
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