Experienced trio Dan Hannebery, Ted Richards and Jeremy Laidler are all in line for the Swans’ NAB Challenge opener against Port Adelaide.

All three were notable absentees in Friday night’s intra-club at Henson Park, but all will be in the mix for Saturday afternoon’s clash at Blacktown International Sportspark.

Richards has been dealing with a calf issue of late, while fellow defender Laidler was rested. Hannebery attended a funeral in Melbourne and therefore wasn’t available for the Swan v Swan encounter.

“Laidler has done most of the training and has only missed this week,” Longmire said post-match.

“We’ll have to discuss Teddy Richards and what he looks like for next week, so those two are in the mix, so we’ll have to see how we go on Monday.

“Hanners will definitely play next week.”

The trio weren’t the only names missing from the Swans’ first competitive match of the season with Jarrad McVeigh, Ben McGlynn and Gary Rohan also sitting out.

The omissions from the hit-out gave the coaching staff an opportunity to play with the structure and try different players in different positions.

While it’s a coach’s dream to have their fittest and best team playing together, the need for the best forwards to play on the best defenders took precedence, especially early on in the scratch match.

“We had a quality defence playing against a quality forward line for a half, then mixed it up,” Longmire said.

“It’s always hard to get everything you want in these types of games.

“You want your best team to play together and you also want to test them against the best opposition and it’s hard when you’re limited in the numbers

“But part of the process tonight was to throw a few people around in different positions and work together and try a few things.

“A couple of things worked and couple of things didn’t.”

Sam Reid was the only injury to come out of the match with the swingman coming off before half-time with hamstring tightness.