Acting on the advice of medical and fitness staff, the state selectors rested a number of players, including the Swans' Damien Wright and Matthew Wade, in the lead-up to this week's Sheffield Shield final.

Casey started promisingly and had Carlton at 3-87, but Evan Gulbis turned the tide with a commanding 136 in the Blues' total of 9-336.

Stand-in skipper Jayde Herrick played a lone hand for the Swans with 6-85 from 23 overs.

He dismissed opener Dean Peter-Budge for a duck and got the vital wicket of Gulbis late in the day.

Carlton skipper Tim Welsford provided Gulbis with great support from an unbeaten 67.

The Blues declared with 10 overs to go and forced the Swans to face the music in a difficult 60 minutes at the crease, a move that paid off with the Swans losing two wickets by stumps.

The loss of Jake Best and the experienced Michael Hansen were major blows to the Swans, who needed to show all their new-found faith and determination when they resumed yesterday at 2-22.