As far as coaching apprenticeships go, they don't come much better than that undertaken by the former Swans captain, who returned to his beloved Sydney to work with the forwards under John Longmire last year.

That followed a stint at Fremantle under Ross Lyon as an assistant, while Kirk also played under super coach Paul Roos, winning the 2005 AFL premiership along the way.

"I've been really fortunate and had some great mentors, played under Paul Roos as well, three guys that are really strong in their own different aspects in coaching," Kirk said.

"I want to get as much knowledge and experience as I possibly can. Working under Ross Lyon and now under John, they both had long apprenticeships.

"I'm not in any hurry at all, so I just keep learning my craft, developing so if any opportunity comes along down the track, maybe have a look at it. I love coaching people and love watching guys grow and I'm really passionate about it."

Kirk coached one half of last Friday's intra-club trial match against Henry Playfair, who will take the reins against GWS for the club's second pre-season clash in two weeks, before Longmire takes charge for Sydney's final hitout ahead of the AFL season.

Brownlow Medal runner-up Luke Parker will play against North Melbourne after recovering from off-season knee surgery, but Lance Franklin will miss the match as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder operation.

Newly anointed captain Josh Kennedy will play after sitting out last weekend's intra-club trial, his first competitive hitout for the Swans since replacing Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh as skipper.

"With Joey [Kennedy], he just steps up – anything that comes his way he just takes that responsibility on," Kirk said.

"I've seen him develop from when he first came to the club. I don't think he'll change too much about the way he plays football.

"When you take on a leadership position you don't want to change too much. Off the field the interactions and thinking about the game and everyone around him probably changes a little bit for him.

"The advice was do what you do really well and that's obviously train hard, play hard. You want to open up your awareness a little bit. He'll do pretty much what he's done day in, day out the last couple of years."

The Swans will stay in Coffs Harbour until midway through next week for their annual pre-season training camp after the Kangaroos game.

They have next weekend off before a derby clash against the Giants at Blacktown International Sportspark on March 3, the teams' first meeting since GWS won last year's qualifying final at ANZ Stadium.

Longmire will resume head-coaching duties for Sydney's final pre-season game against St Kilda in Albury on March 12.