Geelong will tackle the AFL’s most imposing forward line on Thursday night without two of their star defenders.

Tom Lonergan and Corey Enright will miss the huge clash against Sydney at the SCG, having failed to travel north with the team on Wednesday.

Lonergan did not overcome a concussion suffered in Friday night’s win over North Melbourne, while Enright has an ankle complaint that surfaced in the days after the clash.

The loss of Lonergan is a particularly bitter pill to swallow, given his proven ability to subdue Sydney star Lance Franklin.

Geelong’s football operations boss Neil Balme said Lonergan lost a race to be fit for Thursday night’s game.

“Tommy won’t get up, unfortunately there hasn’t been enough time,” he said.

“There’s an argument he could be OK by game-time but we just don’t take that sort of risk.”