"They're the best team in the competition. We need to get everything right this week, make sure our prep is absolutely spot on," Longmire said.

"We enjoy that challenge, but we know it will be a real challenge."

The Swans forward line has struggled at times this season but they found an even spread with 10 goalkickers against the Saints. Franklin starred with four but by no means were the Swans over-reliant on the four-time Coleman Medallist.

Ruckman Callum Sinclair, young star Will Hayward and midfielders Isaac Heeney and Luke Parker have also made valuable contributions on the scoreboard.

"We understand Lance is a big figure in our forward half, sometimes we get it right, sometimes we don't," Longmire said.

"Just sharing that load around early in the game is important for us to do, making sure we play selfless footy – that's the real key.

"There's some young kids in that front half – [Ben] Ronke, Hayward – that are able to contribute by kicking goals or setting others up, which is just as important for us."

The Swans learned to find other avenues to goal while Franklin was out with a bruised heel and since his return have twice kicked a triple-figure score from four games.

"He's good when he's up the ground, he's generally pretty good at delivering the ball inside 50 as well. It might be a bit in that, it's hard to say," Longmire said when asked if the Swans had become more flexible in attack due to Franklin's time out.

"We'd like him to be playing every week and work around that. We were able to stand up OK with him out of the team, but we are a better team with him in the team."

Longmire, however, was critical of the Swans' team defence after they conceded 55 entries inside 50, saying there was considerable room for improvement.

"They were able to transfer the ball a bit too easily at times. We can get that a bit better," Longmire said.

"We stood up when it got in there, which was important, but it gives us something to work on."