SUPERSTAR forward Lance Franklin will play his first game of the year against Greater Western Sydney in Friday night's JLT Community Series match at Blacktown.

Franklin had shoulder surgery in the off-season and has been cleared to return to the field after training fully with the Swans' main group over the past fortnight. 

The three-time Coleman medallist played with the problem throughout last year's finals series, and although he still had his shoulder strapped on the training track on Monday morning, Franklin moved well and showed off his trademark agility in a sharp session involving a mixture of competitive and skills work.

Swans assistant coach Henry Playfair will take charge of the side against the Giants this week, and said Franklin was ready to go.

"It's good to have Buddy back," he said.

"His pre-season has been a little bit hampered but only in a contact sense. He's done the majority of the sessions, he's just had to be careful, and the other players have had to be careful not to injure the shoulder.

"He's been on board (with his rehabilitation) from day one and he's ticked every box along the journey, so it's been pretty seamless up until this point. 

"He's got one training session to do (on Wednesday) and then it'll be good to see him out there." 

Franklin is certain to return, along with Dane Rampe (hip) and Sam Naismith (shoulder), who also missed the Swans' opening round loss North Melbourne in Coffs Harbour on February 19.  

Naismith has built up his training load over the past month after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last season, and Playfair said both Naismith and Franklin were set to return at the perfect time.

"They're right on track. Ideally we wanted to get them enough minutes before round one and we'll get that with two games to come (in the JLT series)," he said.

"We're confident that they'll be able to play enough and be ready to go."

Aliir Aliir remains a slight chance to face the Giants but looks more likely to miss another game as he recovers from a toe injury, despite training solidly on Monday, and doing extra fitness work after the main session had finished.

"Aliir will be touch and go," he said.

"Certainly the coaches are pushing for him (to play) but we'll work that out with the medical staff later in the week.

"I'd say he's unlikely."