Sydney coach Paul Roos has predicted all but a couple of AFL clubs will have to endure a form roller-coaster this season.

The Swans have experienced their share of ups and downs through the first five rounds, losing their three away fixtures and winning both their home matches.

Roos pointed out Sydney were one of several clubs trying to integrate several youngsters into their lineup.

"I think that's going to be the story of the year for a lot of teams," Roos said.

"Watching games on the weekend you've probably got only two or three experienced teams at the moment, Geelong, St Kilda and probably the Bulldogs even though they lost on the weekend.

"You've probably got only three really experienced teams, even Hawthorn is young, they've got a lot of injuries, so I think it's just going to be a roller-coaster.

"Most of the other teams are either very young or experienced and trying to get young guys into their side, so I've got no doubt every team is going to go through their ups and downs throughout the course of the year.

"The quicker we can get our younger guys experienced, it might not help us this year, but hopefully it will help us next year, but eventually you've got to play them and give them a chance."

Roos said it would not necessarily be younger Swans players who were sacrificed for the anticipated return this weekend of key forwards Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.

He rated Hall a 90-95 per cent chance of returning from a groin problem and O'Loughlin a 70 per cent prospect of playing his first senior game of the campaign after off-season surgery.

"We'd like to keep the young guys in there, the only way they can learn is by playing," Roos said.

He said a shoulder problem for Luke Ablett and bruising to Nick Malceski and Craig Bird were the only fitness concerns arising out of last weekend's loss to Fremantle.

Having lost to previously winless Fremantle, Roos was relieved the Tigers had broken their duck last weekend against North Melbourne.

"They (Richmond) played really well last week and we need to play well, that's the theme I've seen across the board," Roos said.

"There may be two or three teams up there that can play at 80 or 90 per cent intensity, but for everyone else in the competition at the moment unless you bring your A game to the weekend, it's very hard to win."

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