“We expect to get some good game time into our players and provide some opportunities to some of the younger kids, which is always important,” Longmire told the media on Tuesday.
“It’s an important time of the year to get that game time in, but also to establish yourself if you want a spot pretty early in the season.
“Those opportunities tend to arise at this time of year for every club and we’re no different.”
Ten uncapped Swans have been named for Thursday’s clash at StarTrack Oval, including two of the club’s 2013 draftees, Toby Nankervis and Aliir Aliir.
Longmire said he had been thoroughly impressed with the pair’s progress this pre-season and, in particular, Nankervis’s three-goal haul in last week’s intra-club clash.
“Nankervis has done very well so far,” the coach said about the 19-year-old ruckman.
“He’s shown the capability to play as a key forward and take marks and he’s got extremely clean hands.
“He also enjoys the body contact that comes with being a ruckman and that’s always a good thing for a ruckman to have, in that he’s able to be physical and he enjoys it as well.”
Fellow new recruits Jeremy Laider and Tom Derickx will also play their first game in the red and white this Thursday.
Longmire said both players, who arrived at the Swans as delisted free agents, had been among the standout players this pre-season, as well as identifying the likes of Harry Cunningham and rookie ruckman Sam Naismith as big improvers.
“I think some of the players who have been able to put their hand up over the course of the pre-season include Harry Cunningham, who has been terrific,” he said.
“Jeremy Laidler has been good and Tommy Derickx as well.
“(Sam) Naismith and (Toby) Nankervis and those types of players have actually done pretty well in the various roles they’ve played up until now.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how they go against genuine opposition because it’s always hard playing against yourselves, and the players don’t like it too much, which is fair enough.”
The Swans will take on GWS this Thursday in the first of two NAB Challenge clashes for the club.
The Swans will return to Sydney the following Thursday when they host the West Coast Eagles at Blacktown International Sportspark.
