Sydney pair Tom McCartin and Lance Franklin face one final fitness test each at training before the clubs reaches a call as to whether they'll be cleared to face Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.
The duo will train on Monday before a selection call on their fitness is made Tuesday, with McCartin (concussion) and Franklin (knee) both eyeing returns after weeks out of action.
McCartin has played in Sydney's past two VFL matches following a struggle with concussion symptoms dating back to Round 4 this year. Franklin hasn't featured in any of his side's past three matches due to knee soreness, with the club being mindful of his workload at the age of 36.
Sydney coach John Longmire said the duo will be put through their paces early into this week to get a clear indication if either key-position player will be fit for Thursday's matchup with the Tigers.
The premiership coach said the Swans will have an unfamiliar yet healthy problem on their hands if both players were cleared to play.
"We'll see how they pull up from training today and whether we need to pick them this week," Longmire told reporters on Monday.
"The good thing is hopefully both get through training and for the first time in a long time we'll have some selection pressure, which is terrific. That's what we wanna get.
"We feel like the team on the weekend performed pretty strongly. Hopefully we've got a couple of players that can get back into the team if need to as well. That's a good position to be in."
Franklin was a surprise omission for his side's Round 13 clash with St Kilda following Sydney's bye round, with the ailment containing to hamper the 1,000-goal great through his 19th season in the top flight.
Longmire detailed the club had hoped Franklin would be available last week against Geelong, however a more cautious approach was taken to be sure the star forward was fit for Round 17.
"He's a chance, we'll see how he goes," Longmire said.
"He's been running and building back towards this training session. Hopefully he gets through and feels good, the important thing is if he feels well tomorrow. We'll make that call probably tomorrow. He feels like he's done everything.
"It was always if he had done enough at training (he would've played against Geelong). We had to make the decision to do enough at training but not tip him over, that's that fine line.
"If you do too much at training with him you might make him sore for the game a couple of days later. We didn't want to be in that position.
"Last week was about him doing enough to feel good and hopefully he pulls okay. That gives him the best chance to train today and be available for selection this week hopefully.
"The best-laid plans sometimes go south, as we know. All we can do is the plan to give him the opportunity to play and play his best footy."
The Swans came away from last Friday's draw with no recorded injury concerns, with tactical sub Ryan Clarke also going unused for the final moments of the tight contest.
The two collected premiership points have placed Sydney with 26 for the season so far, now level with Richmond and Carlton given their tied result in the opening game of the season.
The winner of Thursday's affair between Sydney and Richmond will go a long way for the victor's hopes of playing finals this year, while the loser will be left with an almighty hill to climb to book themselves for a September showing.
Richmond host Sydney at the MCG on Thursday at 7:20pm (AEST).
