SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire is upbeat about Kurt Tippett's availability for round one of the premiership season, despite the key forward’s leg injury.

Tippett will sit out the Swans’ three NAB Challenge matches after he suffered an injury to his right tibia-fibula joint during last Friday's intra-club game.

It means the Swans will be without their powerful tall forward duo for Friday night's NAB Challenge match against the Brisbane Lions in Coffs Harbour.

Lance Franklin is also out of the team because of a sore right knee.

While Tippett is out of action for the NAB Challenge, Longmire said he could prove his fitness the week before the season starts in early April.

"There may be an opportunity for him to play some game time then," Longmire said.

"He can still run from next week and do a lot of the conditioning work, it's just the competitive work he'll be missing out on over the next couple of weeks."

Adam Goodes, Ted Richards and Jarrad McVeigh also will not play in an understrength Swans team against the Lions.

But the Swans will audition youngsters such as Isaac Heeney, Jack Hiscox and Toby Nankervis.

Former Collingwood star Dayne Beams will play for the Lions, after starring in his first outing for his new club against St Kilda last weekend.

"They've recruited extremely well ... established, senior, quality AFL players - top liners," Longmire said of the Lions.

"They've had the benefit of (putting) 12 months of experience into their younger kids.

"They're quality young kids.

"They're pretty positive about their future and as they should be."