LANCE Franklin and Kurt Tippett appear set to return for Sydney in Friday night’s blockbuster against Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium after training strongly on Wednesday evening.

Former Hawk Franklin was under an injury cloud after missing Sydney’s 79-point win over Brisbane with a knee injury last week, with Wednesday’s session was his chance to prove to coach John Longmire he’s fit and ready to play.

Under the watchful eye of his coaches, fitness staff and the media, Franklin trained strongly and appears set to play against the side he helped win two premierships in his nine years at the club.

Tippett, who hasn’t yet played in 2014 after battling a knee injury and then a cracked rib also impressed and is almost certain to make his first appearance of the year.

Speaking to media after the training session, Longmire confirmed the pair impressed during the hit out.

“They both trained really well, so we expect them to play at this stage,” Longmire said.

“We were always going to see how things went at training, as I said earlier in the week.

“We saw how the training session went and all the players who had question marks trained quite well, so we expect them to be available.

“They obviously haven’t played much footy together, and with the other players as well, but it’s good to have them available.”

If both are picked for Friday night’s blockbuster, it would be the first time the pair feature in the same Swans forward line.

Franklin and Tippett will join fellow star forwards Adam Goodes and Sam Reid in one of the most potent forward lines in the competition.

In the opening seven rounds, Sydney have kicked 602 points – an average of 86 points per game but that appears likely to rise with the full complement of their forwards now available for selection.

Franklin has kicked 12 goals so far this season.