Superstar forward Lance Franklin has been ruled out of Sydney's crucial seventh-round clash against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Franklin was a late omission for the Swans' Sydney Derby XVII clash last Saturday night, ruled out with a 'tight' hamstring.
The star forward has been building momentum this year, following a third consecutive injury-interrupted pre-season.
He joined new recruit and fellow forward Dan Menzel in the operating theatre last year, undergoing groin surgery for an injury sustained in Sydney Derby XV.
Speaking at today's press conference, Sydney's senior coach John Longmire confirmed the 4-time Coleman Medalist wouldn't be making the trip north.
"He will miss another week. We’re pretty confident he will be available next week," Longmire told reporters.
"We scanned him on Friday morning and there was a slight strain there and we looked at that and talked about it last week and then talked about it again this week.
"A limited pre-season, age and all those things come into it and we decided not to take the risk."
Will Hayward is an outside chance of making his return this week, after missing three rounds with a broken jaw.
"Will Hayward is a chance to come back into the team this week. He will see a specialist later this week to determine that," Longmire said.
"We will be guided by the medical experts on that."
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