Rhyce Shaw's return will be a boost for Sydney Swans Defender Rhyce Shaw is set to return for the Swans against Lions. Picture: Tim Hunter. SWANS coach John Longmire says the return of rebounding defender Rhyce Shaw could be a huge boost for the club heading into a difficult period of their season. The 31-year-old premiership player has returned to running at 90 per cent and Longmire said he would be an automatic selection if he completes Wednesday's main training session before they take on the Brisbane Lions at the SCG on Sunday. Shaw has missed the Swans' past three games with a lower abdominal strain that forced him off during the Swans' round two win over Gold Coast. "I'd expect that if he is fit he'll come back into the side," Longmire said. He's an experienced player who can give us some dash and bash coming out of the backline. He can bring the ball out of the back half, but at the same time he has the right mix of being able to do a really good defensive job on the other team's best small forward. The premiership coach all but ruled out Shaw returning through the Swans' reserves, meaning it is likely Tony Armstrong will make way. Shaw's return means it is only Alex Johnson (knee, season), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee, 3-4 weeks), Gary Rohan (tibia, season) and Kurt Tippett (suspension, round 13) remaining on the club's unavailable list. The Swans are heading into a difficult period with games against Brisbane, Hawthorn, Fremantle, Collingwood, Essendon and Adelaide before a round 12 bye.