KURT Tippett's push for a recall to Sydney's senior side has hit another hurdle with the big Swan set to miss at least one game with an ankle injury.
Tippett has struggled for form and fitness for most of the season and was dropped to the NEAFL a fortnight ago, but has been impressive for the Swans in their two big wins over Greater Western Sydney and Aspley in the reserves.
The 30-year-old had 20 possessions, took six marks and laid five tackles on Saturday, but coach John Longmire said Tippett's troublesome ankle had blown up post-match.
"He's got an ankle (injury) that's sort of been grumbling along a little bit and that means that he'll miss this week," Longmire said on Monday.
"He got through the game on the weekend but pulled up a bit sore and it's just been getting worse and worse, so we've got to make sure we get him right.
"We expect him to be right (next week), he's had it for a couple of weeks, but that's what AFL footy is about, you go through those patches when this happens.
"It's just about showing the resilience to be able to bounce back and I'm sure he will, he's a really resilient character."
In better news for the Swans, former co-captain Jarrad McVeigh is a chance to be available for Friday night's clash with Essendon at the SCG, after getting through training on Saturday.
McVeigh has been battling a hamstring issue in recent weeks after missing most of the year with a calf injury, but will look to increase his intensity at training during week in a bid to prove his fitness.
"He's done all the training so far over the last week and has pulled up quite well, and we'll see how he goes Wednesday," Longmire said.
"That will be an important session for him, he trained over the weekend and today (Monday) and trained quite well, so he'll go again with the team on Wednesday and we'll see how he pulls up."
Speedy midfielder Harry Cunningham is likely to miss at least another game, possibly two, after he had a setback during his rehab running session on Monday.
Cunningham hasn't played for the Swans since partially tearing the Lisfranc ligament in his right foot against St Kilda in round nine at Etihad Stadium.
After winning five of their past six games the Swans are now just one game outside the eight, a stunning turnaround after they lost their first six games of the year, but Longmire wouldn't be drawn into any talk about what kind of damage his team could do in the finals.
"We've got to get there first," he said.
"We know we've got very little room for error, we understand that and the place we've put ourselves in, so we need to keep playing well every week.
"We're encouraged by the fact that our best football goes well against anyone on any given weekend, that was the same last week and it's going to be the same against the Bombers.
"It's going to be a huge game here between two teams in reasonable form, and we understand there's still a lot on the line."
