YOUNG midfielder Luke Parker will return to the Sydney Swans' line-up for Saturday night's clash with the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

Parker broke his collarbone back in round 10, but has spent the past two weeks in the reserves and coach John Longmire is an admirer of the 20-year-old's work-rate and competitiveness.

Provided he makes it through training on Thursday, Parker will be on the plane heading north to take on the Suns, when the Swans will attempt to retain top spot on the AFL ladder.

"If Luke Parker trains well today and gets through training we'll probably name him in the squad," Longmire told reporters.

"He's been doing everything we've asked of him the last few weeks.

"He's spent a period of time out of the team but we've been keen to get him in and get him back into senior football."

Shane Mumford will miss the Gold Coast game due to the bone bruising he sustained in last week's win over St Kilda, which was the Swans' seventh straight victory.

Percentage is looming as a major factor heading towards the finals and most would be tipping a decent victory for the in-form Swans against the young Suns.

But percentage doesn't rate a mention around the club, according to Longmire.

"It doesn't come into at all," he said. "It doesn't come into any discussions anyone has inside the footy club.

"We've just got to make sure we win games of footy.

"We don't talk about percentage at all."

Over the past three weeks, the Suns were competitive in a 14-point defeat to Geelong, picked up their first win of the season against Richmond and then had plenty of chances to knock off the Lions.

It has been enough to grab Longmire's attention.

“The last three weeks they've been pretty impressive,” he said.

“If you go through what they’ve done as a team over that three-week period, they’ve been really good and competitive and have got almost their best team in now.

“They’ve been really strong around the ball and have been able to score really well and effectively when they’ve been inside 50 and they’ve defended well.

“All these stats over the last three weeks, which is what we’ve looked at, have suggested that they’ve really improved over the course of the year.”

With games against Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong ahead for the Swans before season's end, it was suggested to Longmire Saturday night wasn't a big game.

His response was swift.

"I don't agree that this isn't one of them," he said.

When it was pointed out it was first place against 17th on the ladder, the pragmatic Longmire had another quick reply.

"The players also see what they've done the last three weeks," he said.

"We don't spend time gazing at the ladder because it's pointless.

"We address what is in front of us and that's the Gold Coast and over the last three weeks their form has been really competitive.

"The rest is irrelevant."

James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD