Despite losing key forward Joel Amartey to a hamstring injury, Cox has opted against gambling on an underdone Logan McDonald for Sunday's clash against a red-hot Port Adelaide.
Amartey is expected to be out for a month, joining captain Callum Mills (foot), Errol Gulden (ankle), Taylor Adams (hamstring), Tom Papley (heel) and Robbie Fox (calf) on the injury list.
Harry Cunningham was poised to soften the blow of losing Amartey after recovering from a foot fracture, but the Swans defender instead strained his calf.
Cunningham, who has not yet played a game this season, faces six more weeks on the sidelines.
"You spend a little bit more time thinking," Cox said on Thursday.
"Certainly, about 'could they (injuries) have been avoided? Could we change anything once it happens? What other ways can we think about doing our program? But, then also the way we want to play as well.
"The challenges in this caper never seem to go away and this is just one we have to go through."
Cox earlier on Thursday admitted McDonald had been in the equation.
Playing his first match in round four, McDonald has made his return from off-season ankle surgery via restricted minutes in the reserves side.
"That's something we've got to look at again through the main session and then have a really good discussion," Cox said.
"One thing I've said is I want to make sure that the players, when they come back in, can perform at AFL level."
At least Lewis Melican (adductor) and Justin McInerney (suspension) will return to the side, while fringe players Peter Ladhams and Joel Hamling are other options for cover.
Melican was a test for their eventual Gather-Round loss to Collingwood, but Cox opted against recalling the defender then.
"It was a close decision last week. One thing he had to do was tick a couple of things off in the main training session, that was just a little bit too close to our game," Cox said.
"He trained fully last week on the weekend. He's trained fully this week, and that's good to have him back."
Sitting 10th on the ladder after a 2-3 start to the season, Cox admits he doesn't expect the road to get any easier for the Swans when they face Ken Hinkley's Power.
Port Adelaide ravaged then-undefeated Hawthorn by 71 points late in the second quarter in their Gather Round fixture on their way to a 30-point victory.
"What they've shown over a long period of time, certainly under Ken (Hinkley) , is they play with a lot of emotion - we don't expect anything different," Cox said.
"Knowing Ken briefly, it's a one-wood of his coaching to get his players up and about and the care he has for his players.
"I wasn't really surprised (they beat Hawthorn). They played some phenomenal football so we've got to be ready for that."
17°C