Young Sydney defender Campbell Heath will be sidelined for at least three months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the second time.

Heath, 19, who played two senior games in 2010, landed awkwardly at training last Friday and will undergo LARS (ligament augmentation and reconstruction system) surgery in Sydney next Monday.

Heath ruptured the same left knee ligament two years ago, not long after he was drafted to the Swans with pick No.61 in the 2008 draft.

On that occasion, he underwent conventional reconstruction surgery and returned to play in the 2010 pre-season.

Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs said the LARS procedure means Heath should return to play in 12 to 16 weeks.

"We have learned from our experience that the recovery time (from LARS) is exceptional, at three to four months instead of the player being out for nine to 12 months," Gibbs said.

Swans defender Nick Malceski was the first AFL player to undergo LARS surgery after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in February, 2008.

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