Lance Franklin appears unlikely to face North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena on Saturday night due to a hamstring strain.

The key forward has missed the last three weeks of football after sustaining the injury at a training session ahead of the Round 6 match against GWS.

Head of Football Charlie Gardiner said it’s unlikely Franklin will be able to put in enough training this week to be cleared to play.  

“Lance Franklin pulled up sore from our final training session last week and didn’t get up for our game against Essendon,” Gardiner told SwansTV.

“Our medical team have said that he is probably more unlikely than like to play at this stage.

“I am not expecting Lance to take the field against North Melbourne.”

Key forward Sam Reid is expected to line up on Saturday night after overcoming a sore hip flexor suffered late in Friday’s win over Essendon.

“Sam coped a knock on his hip pointer and 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.”

Exciting forward Daniel Menzel made a successful return to the field with three goals for the Swans’ NEAFL side last weekend.

Gardiner said he expects Menzel to be pushing for senior selection in coming weeks.

“Daniel Menzel had a really good return on the weekend, he kicked three goals and got plenty of the ball,” Gardiner said.

“He looked like he was enjoying being back out there, which was fantastic. 

“We think he will need some more time in the reserves before he pushes for senior selection, but we are hoping that is sooner rather than later.”