SYDNEY hopes superstar forward Lance Franklin will be fit for the trip to face a resurgent Brisbane at the Gabba after a "very minor" hamstring strain kept him out of the Sydney Derby.
Franklin was a late withdrawal from the Swans side that fell to a third loss on the trot with a 41-point defeat at the hands of GWS at the SCG on Saturday night.
GIANTS CRUSH SWANS Full match coverage and stats
"It is just a very minor strain and I am hoping he will be OK for next week," coach John Longmire said.
"He had a scan at eight o'clock on Friday morning and it wasn't too bad.
"We spent a bit of time talking about it, umming and ahhing about it, but we just didn't take the risk."
Longmire said Franklin was frustrated to miss out on the Derby, but a no-risk policy had to be taken, given it was such a big game. His regular GWS opponent, Phil Davis, was also a late withdrawal with an ankle injury sustained against Fremantle in round five.
"He was disappointed as he was desperate to play and he is a massive competitor," Longmire said of Franklin.
"I am not sure how it looks for next week. We hope that he is OK, but we will see how the week goes."
WATCH John Longmire's full post-match press conference
With Franklin watching on from the sidelines, the undermanned Swans took it up to their more fancied rivals for much of Saturday night's contest and trailed by just five points at half-time.
But ultimately the weight of numbers told on Longmire's inexperienced side as the Giants' star midfielders and forwards took control in the second half to cruise to their fourth triumph of the season.
Longmire said there were plenty of positives for to take from the match and urged fans to remain patient as his side continues to blood a new batch of players.
OH YES TOMMY!
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"The wins will take care of themselves, but we have just got to get that process right and I am hoping that our supporters can see that as well," he said.
"Over the last 15 or 20 years we have had a real crack and we are still going to have a crack.
"But we are going to bring through that next bunch of players too, keep teaching and keep developing so we can get better quicker."