THE SYDNEY Swans are hopeful star forward Lance Franklin doesn't miss more than one week with a back injury as the team's top-four place comes under threat in the final rounds of the season.
 
The Swans will need to keep winning to earn a double chance in September as the Western Bulldogs and Richmond – each only one game behind – close in on them.   
 
Franklin first missed with a back injury in round 17 but he returned the next week to bag three goals against Adelaide, despite clearly struggling with the issue.
 
The star goalkicker will miss Saturday night's clash against Geelong at Simonds Stadium and he is not guaranteed to return immediately after for matches against Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney.     
 
"We hope it's only one week, (but) he's still sore … and we didn't have enough time to get him up for this one," coach John Longmire told the club's website.
 
"Hopefully he's available for next week. We'll have to wait and see.
 
"It was just too short a time frame to get him playing this Saturday night and it's unfortunate to have him out of the team."
 
Longmire said he was confident the Swans had enough forward line firepower without Franklin, with Adam Goodes making his anticipated return after personal leave.
 
"Even with Lance in the team, we've got to have different goalkickers and last week I think we had nine," he said.  
 
"We've still got some experience in our front half."