SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos says his club is still targeting a finals berth despite a disappointing 23-point loss to Collingwood at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

The result leaves the Swans at 5-7 after 12 rounds, with Roos' side facing a tough trip to Adelaide to meet the Crows this Saturday. The Swans are likely to need seven wins from their remaining 10 games to make the final eight.

The Swans have lost nine of their past 10 games against the Crows, and 14 of the past 18 in a lean run that began in round eight, 1997.

Roos said the Swans would attempt to balance their pursuit of September action with the development of their young players in the final 10 rounds of the season.

Nick Smith, Kristin Thornton and Ed Barlow were added to the side for the Collingwood clash, and Roos said he was pleased with their output.

“The ideal mode is to keep that process going as we’ve done over the last couple of years,” he said on Monday.

“Now, whether it’s accelerated in terms of more young guys coming in, we’re a little bit limited because a lot of them are injured at the moment anyway.

“But I liked the mix on the weekend – it was good to have a lot of younger guys playing in a big game and gaining some real experience, because that’s the only way you can fast-track your ability to get right back up the top of the ladder.”

As Roos forecast before the split round, Saturday’s game against the Crows will be a pivotal moment for the Swans’ season.

“If we were to drop this game, it makes you 5-8 ... it probably does give you that opportunity to accelerate [your young players] that little bit." 

“Hopefully we can have a look at them towards the end of the year like we did the last two years, and hopefully we can do it in the context of still fighting for a position in the eight.

“If that doesn’t happen, then obviously you start to rethink things a little bit.”

Roos and his match committee look set to be limited in their choices for the trip to Adelaide after Patrick Veszpremi (ankle), Mike Pyke (calf) and Daniel O’Keefe (concussion, possible cheekbone) failed to complete the Swans’ reserves clash against Belconnen.

Veszpremi booted four goals in the 109-point loss before he was forced from the field. All three players will be assessed later in the week.