Sydney coach John Longmire faces a month-long selection headache, as the AFL's reigning premiers determine just who of their young guns are playing on borrowed time.
Longmire revealed on Tuesday that injured trio Adam Goodes (knee), Lewis Jetta (shin) and Sam Reid (quad) - all walk-up starters when fit - are 3-4 weeks away from senior selection.
At best, they'll return for the Swans' round-22 clash with Geelong but, realistically, it's more likely to be Hawthorn six days later or week one of the finals.
Whenever it comes, Longmire will have to make room and it won't be easy.
Incumbents Jed Lamb, Brandon Jack and Tom Mitchell are the least experienced in the team, but all have impressed for the second-placed Swans after making debuts earlier this season.
"Jetta, Reid, Goodes and (Lewis) Roberts-Thomson are still quite a number of weeks away. The good thing is there's still avenues for those younger players to keep playing and playing well," Longmire said.
"They see that ... but also know if anyone misses out - young or old - that if you keep your form up, you're a chance to return the following week or the week after.
"If you're a bit unlucky in your own mind, or if you are a bit unlucky to be dropped at some point - then you've just got to keep your form up in the reserves."
Longmire is likely to make one change for Saturday night's clash with Collingwood at ANZ Stadium, with small forward Ben McGlynn's suspension over and his hamstring mended.
"We've been happy with our younger kids who have been in the team while Benny and others have been injured," he said.
"However Benny is still our leading goalkicker and has been a real pressure forward for us ... he's a quality player.
"(This week) one of the players might be a bit unlucky to miss out. But it's not unusual - it happens at other teams."
Longmire said he hadn't given much thought yet to the likely September selection quandary.
"It's something we assess at the time ... it's not really relevant now."
