Swans skipper Mills to play against Roos in AFL return

Sydney captain Callum Mills will play his first AFL game of the season, iconwin lining up against North Melbourne after overcoming injuries.

Mills will slot straight back into the senior side on Saturday after spending eight months on the sidelines.

The hard-running midfielder was ruled out for the first half of the season after damaging the rotator cuff in his left shoulder while wrestling with a teammate at a post-season event in September.

Mills' playing return was set back further when he suffered a low-grade calf strain in April.

His return comes at an opportune time for the Swans, with star midfielder Isaac Heeney at risk of suspension following an off-the-ball strike against St Kilda's Jimmy Webster on the weekend.

Sydney coach John Longmire says Mills, 27, will play against the Kangaroos regardless of whether the club is successful in overturning Heeney's ban.

"Regardless of what happens at the tribunal, 'Millsy' will come back in," Longmire said on Tuesday.

"He's done a power of work. We've gone through all the numbers 'til the cows come home.

"He's had a really good (training) block, so he will come back in the senior team this week."

Fellow midfielder Luke Parker's return to the senior side is not as clear-cut.

The former co-captain will be available to play after serving a six-game VFL suspension, but Longmire stopped short of confirming he would appear in the senior side.

Like Mills, Parker has not played a game at AFL level this season due to injury.

The 31-year-old starred in the Sydney reserves side before a heavy bump against Frankston's Josh Smith in his fourth game back from a broken arm resulted in his suspension.

"We'll talk about 'Parksy'. He's coming back," the coach said.

"He'll come back into the frame (this week) as far as playing football."