Sydney Swans superstar Buddy Franklin (pictured) says the next month will be crucial as he recovers from off season shoulder surgery.

Franklin played the last 2 months of the 2016 season with the shoulder injury and went under the knife immediately after the Grand Final to rectify the injury.

Franklin has been training without contact for the last  8 weeks and will now step up the contact work to ensure he’s ready for Round one when the Swans meet Port on March 25.