Sydney superstar Lance Franklin's chances of facing Hawthorn on Friday night will come down to how well he recovers from training on Wednesday.

Franklin has missed the past two games with a bruised heel but took to the track with the rest of his teammates – wearing running shoes - at the SCG on Wednesday night, before the session was closed to the media.

The four-time Coleman medallist has been running over the past week and has pulled up well from those sessions, but he's yet to test himself with more intense footy-specific work.

Sydney coach John Longmire said he's still unsure if Franklin will be fit to face his former side.

"He's been running and having a kick, but we know the change of direction and other things is another level on top of that," Longmire said.

"The plan is to do a big session and see how he goes.

"If he's able to get through a certain amount of training and feel good about tha, and contribute, if we name him then the expectation is that he'll play.

"He's done what's required so far."

Severe weather is predicted in Melbourne on Friday, but Longmire said the wet conditions and softness of the MCG turf won't play any part in the coaching staff's decision regarding Franklin.

"We've packed the flippers and a couple of boats as well," Longmire said with a laugh.

"From the weather reports it sounds like it's going to be really wet, but we'd planned to go through the same process (with Franklin) whether it was dry or wet.

"But if he's right to play, he'll play, and that doesn't come into our thinking at this point."

While the Swans will have their eyes glued to Franklin over the next couple of days, Longmire also has his sights on former Sydney midfielder Tom Mitchell.

The gun Hawk leads the competition for disposals and clearances in 2018 and will no doubt receive plenty of attention from his old teammates, but Longmire is undecided if he'll throw a shutdown tag at Mitchell.

"It's a consideration absolutely," he said.

"You don't go into a game knowing what (numbers) Tommy has been able to rack up and not consider it.

"What you do know is that regardless of whether you've got anyone on him or not, he's going to get 15 to 20 (possessions), and that’s at the very least.

"You understand that he's always going to get the ball, he's a very good player, but it's very hard to completely nullify those guys who go in and pick it up from the bottom of the pack, which he's so good at."