HUGE doubts still remain over the Sydney Swans' injured brigade, so coach John Longmire was rapt to secure a top-four berth on Sunday, two weeks out from the AFL finals.
None of Adam Goodes (knee), Lewis Jetta (shin), Sam Reid (quad) or Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee) have resumed training or are any chance of featuring in the Swans' next challenge, a trip to Geelong to face the Cats.
It is widely assumed Goodes has the best chance of slotting back into the team if and when he proves his fitness, while Longmire concedes all are in the Swans' best 22 when available.
But the longer they remain on the sidelines, coupled with the solid form of Jesse White, Jed Lamb and Andrejs Everitt and the return on Sunday of Gary Rohan, the harder it becomes for them to force their way back into the side.
"We'll look at what we need to do to make sure we give ourselves the best possible chance, but it is a bit of a different situation if you look at some of the players that we hope to get back training," Longmire said after the 59-point win over the Saints.
"The facts are they haven't been training yet. They've been running, but they're not training yet.
"The form of those blokes that have played the back half of the year has been pretty strong and it will need to be a strong argument (from the injured stars), depending on their form and fitness over the next couple of weeks.
"They have to start training with the team first so until we get over that hurdle, it's a bit hard to say what will be happening in the coming weeks.
"There's no doubt that those blokes are in our best team, but we haven't seen them train with the team yet.
"It's just about understanding that we need to be playing the kind of footy we want to play, we need everyone fit and firing when the whips are cracking."
Kurt Tippett was subbed out just prior to three quarter-time against the Saints with some hamstring tightness, although Longmire said he could have continued on if required.
His replacement was Rohan, who received a huge ovation when he sprinted onto the ground following his 16-month battle with a broken leg.
Tom Mitchell was rested this week after a long rookie season and is likely to return to face the Cats, while Longmire said Brandon Jack and Rohan could be competing to retain the outside running position vacated by Jetta.
Rohan managed five disposals, three inside 50s and two marks and is right in the mix to keep his place for the game against Geelong and beyond.
"To come on and play 30 minutes of footy and get a few kicks and a few touches – it was nice of the Saints to put Sean Dempster, an All Australian defender onto him," Longmire said a little sarcastically.
"He's a good player Sean, so Gazza didn't get an easy one.
"It was good to see him run around and good to see him get his hands on the footy a few times again at senior level and we know he'll get better."
Longmire, who typically focuses on processes and form over elements like ladder positions, could also concede the benefits of having a top-four spot locked in after round 21.
"At the start of the pre-season you want to end up as high up the ladder as you can and obviously in the top four is an important position to be in," he said.
"It's good to be able to sit there at the moment and say that's been achieved, but it is only one thing that's been achieved.
"It doesn't stop from here, we need to make sure our form over the next couple of weeks is strong against two high-quality opponents."
