The premiership favourites have recalled All Australian duo Franklin and Dan Hannebery for their road trip to the Adelaide Oval to take on a side which they rate as one of their toughest opponents this year.

The pair proved their fitness at training on Thursday and will bolster a Swans team which returned to the winner's list last week against Essendon.

Hannebery has not played in nearly eight weeks but such is his importance to their midfield he has been brought straight back into the seniors.

“He comes back into the team with his running ability and he’s a naturally fit player, so it’s important to get him back in the team,” Swans coach John Longmire said. “We expect him to have an impact and that’s why we’ve picked him. We’ve got him in the team to come in and contribute, and whatever that role is, he needs to make sure he does that.

“We’re confident that he’s an experienced senior player and that he can come back into the team and give us some real run.”

Out of the side are Tim Membrey and Dean Towers, who have been omitted after being given a taste of senior football.

Franklin had been in hot form before his withdrawal last week with a minor knee issue and was instrumental in the Swans' thrilling victory over Port eight weeks ago, kicking his team's last five goals of the game to pull them over the line.

That match, rated one of the best of the season, was a game the Swans can consider themselves very fortunate to win given they were well beaten in key statistical categories like possessions, contested possessions, clearances and inside-50 entries, particularly in the second half.

"It was probably the hardest game we've played all year,'' Swans defender Rhyce Shaw said. ''They're a very good side, they work really hard, they stick to their structures really well, they're really well drilled.

"We pride ourselves on those two facets of our game. It's no wonder it was a great contest last time."

But there has been a marked contrast in Sydney and Port's fortunes since. The Swans have lost just one game while the Power, the early-season pacesetters, have won just two of their past seven games and are rapidly falling out of contention for a top-four berth.

Stats supplied by Champion Data show several key midfielders have tailed off from rounds 14-19 compared to the first 13 weeks of the season.

Kane Cornes's dropoff has been most marked, down from an average of 27.3 possessions a game to 22 while Robbie Gray (24.2 to 22.3), Brad Ebert (23.9 to 21.5) and Jared Polec (21.9 to 16.8) are also in troughs.

The flow-on effect has also been felt by their forwards, most notably by All Australian goal sneak Chad Wingard, who has managed a paltry three goals from his past six games.

As a team, Port have slumped in areas such as marks (second to 10th), goals per inside 50 (second to 11th), contested possession differential (first to 11th) and inside 50s (first to sixth).

"They've hit a bit of a flat spot but you can never underestimate them,'' Shaw said. ''Kenny Hinkley has done a fantastic job over there and all the boys play footy for him and the club. We're expecting no less this week."

Port's woes worsened this week with two senior-listed players and three from their SANFL academy being taken to hospital after contracting viral meningitis.

The club has since "significantly" increased their cleaning protocols, said chief executive Keith Thomas. The Swans have not requested any different treatment this week in the wake of Port's health crisis.

Meanwhile, the 2015 AFL grand final will be held in October as the season is starting a week later due to the cricket World Cup being staged in Australia and New Zealand.