The continued absence of stars Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta is proving just how important Sydney's off-season pursuit of Kurt Tippett was.
On Thursday, Longmire gave the strongest indication yet dual Brownlow medallist Goodes might not return for the reigning AFL premiers this season.
Goodes has been sidelined since damaging his cartilage in the Swans' round 13 clash with Port Adelaide on June 13, and Longmire suggested the 33-year-old would need to show some major progress in the coming week if he were to play in September.
"He's not confident, he's hopeful," Longmire said of Goodes' assessment of his own chances of returning.
"He's wanting to play but his knee's a little bit sore ... he hasn't had too many wins in his rehab, to use his own words this morning."
Key forward Sam Reid (quad), utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson (knee) and the Swans' leading 2012 goal-kicker Jetta (shin) are also in doubt for the finals.
"That's three who can play key-forward roles for us, as well as our No.1 goal-kicker from last year (all sidelined for a long period) ... it's provided some challenges," Longmire said.
Tippett has become the most important and most irreplaceable member of Longmire's team.
In the nine games since serving his 11-match ban resulting from Adelaide's salary cap saga, Tippett is the league's top goal-kicker (32) and ranks equal second in contested marks (19).
"He (Tippett) has provided us with a real marking target in our front half, it's been so important in the back half of the year," said Longmire.
"He's such a big bloke that marks the ball so strongly ... he works so hard at his game and he gets rewarded when he works hard at his game.
"I'm sure he'll be tested out against a Geelong defence."
Geelong host Sydney in a top-four blockbuster at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
There's every chance the two teams will battle again in September, but Longmire said he would hold nothing in the bank on the weekend.
"Tactically ... there's nothing that we think we need to hold up our sleeve, because it's just too hard a job to do anyway," Longmire said.
"The No.1 thing is they're a really, really good team."
