Sydney superstar Lance Franklin is set to miss a fourth-straight AFL game because of his hamstring injury.
The Swans were initially confident that Franklin would be sidelined for only one match, having been a last-minute withdrawal from the Sydney derby on April 27.
But he pulled up sore last week and Sydney football manager Charlie Gardiner has confirmed the four-time Coleman medallist is unlikely to face North Melbourne in Hobart on Saturday night.
The news is better for fellow forward Sam Reid, who is expected to tackle the Kangaroos despite suffering a bad knock to his hip in the Swans' win over Essendon.
"Looks like he will be OK," Gardiner said.
"He is getting lots of treatment and I think he will come up for this week's game."
Franklin, having played 295 games, will celebrate the most meaningful milestone of his decorated career soon after getting back on the park.
If he returns against Collingwood next week then game No.300 will come in round 15, when the Swans host Gold Coast.
Sydney coach John Longmire last month described Franklin's setback as "a very minor strain", suggesting the 32-year-old came close to running out against GWS.
"We spent a bit of time talking about it, umming and ahhing about it, but we just didn't take the risk," Longmire said at the time.
Franklin has since made steady progress in his recovery but hit a hurdle last week while attempting to prove his fitness for the SCG clash with the Bombers.
"We just have to make sure we follow our really detailed plan and have him ready to go when he's right to play, whether that's this week or next week," Longmire said on Monday.
