The Swans will be looking for a four-quarter effort from their midfield department when they take on the Adelaide Crows on Friday night at the SCG.
With both teams' season resting on a knife's edge, losing is not an option, with just three teams from the last 15 years reaching the finals when they've started the season 0-2.
Two of those teams were Sydney (2014, 2017), one of which became the only team to come from a 0-6 start to make the finals.
The contest should have been over by quarter time in their Round 5 match last year, with the Crows booting 4.9, but in the end it didn't hurt them.
Rory Laird (30 disposals, 3 Brownlow votes), Rory Atkins (24 disposals, 3 goals) and Paul Seedsman (26 disposals, 12 contested) were simply irrepressible for the visitors, with forwards Tex Walker (4 goals) and Josh Jenkins (3) goals returning to form.
The Swans threatened a boil over late in the third quarter, before four consecutive goals sealed the win.
Despite winning the inside 50 count 64-48, there were few winners for the Swans, with Jake Lloyd (28 disposals), Zak Jones (27 disposals, 1 goal) and Jarrad McVeigh (26 disposals, 7 inside 50s) among the best.
Both teams have made two changes, with Heath Grundy (injured) and Jordan Dawson making way for Ben Ronke and Colin O'Riordan, while Paul Seedsman and Kyle Hartigan come in for Tom Doedee (ACL) and Richard Douglas (injured)
WHERE AND WHEN:
SCG, Friday, March 29, 7.50pm AEDT
BROADCAST GUIDE:
Melbourne: Channel 7 & Foxtel 504 from 7.30pm
Adelaide: Channel 7 & Foxtel 504 from 7pm
Sydney: 7Mate & Foxtel 504 from 7.30pm
Perth: 7Mate & Foxtel 504 from 4.30pm
LAST FIVE MEETINGS:
R5, 2018, Adelaide Crows 12.13 (85) d Sydney Swans 10.15 (75)
R22, 2017, Sydney Swans 13.5 (83) d Adelaide Crows 11.14 (80)
SF, 2016, Sydney Swans 18.10 (108) d Adelaide Crows 12.10 (82)
R4, 2016, Adelaide Crows 16.17 (113) d Sydney Swans 15.13 (103)
R18, 2015, Sydney Swans 17.15 (117) d Adelaide Crows 9.11 (65)
KEY MATCHUPS:
Dane Rampe vs Tex Walker
Last time they played Walker booted 4 goals and picked up 2 Brownlow votes, playing back into form. Rampe has had his number in the past and he'll need to be at his best to stop him again if the Swans hope to win the game.
Callum Sinclair vs Sam Jacobs
Big "Sauce" Jacobs has done the job on Sinclair each time they've played, easily besting him in the ruck and providing more ground presence. Sinclair will need to exploit Jacobs' lack of athleticism to win the contest, which may prove crucial to giving his midfielders first use of the ball.
Lance Franklin vs Daniel Talia
They've had great battles in the past, with Talia getting on top in Round 5 last year, but Franklin utterly dominating in Round 22, 2017. Talia and Phil Davis are the only defenders who've regularly beaten Franklin, but when Franklin gets on top, his side always wins.
THE SIX POINTS:
1: The last time they played, a 4.9 first quarter set up Adelaide's win. The Swans came back hard, but another 4-goal burst both sides of the last break sealed the win.
2: Lance Franklin has enjoyed success against the Crows in recent years, kicking 18 goals from 5 games between 2014 to 2017. His 1 goal effort in Round 5 last season was his lowest against Adelaide since 2013.
3: Sydney were the 9th ranked contested football side for 2018 with 147 per game, the Crows were ranked 2nd with 153.5.
4: The Swans where -9 clearances and -26 contested possessions against the Western Bulldogs in Round 1, while the Crows were +11 clearances and +18 contested possessions against the Hawks - both teams lost.
5: Sydney's once vaunted fortress the SCG was more a graveyard for the Swans last season, winning just 4 of 12 matches, snapping a 7-game win streak in 2017.
6: The last time they played, the Swans dominated the inside 50 count 64-48, but lost the clearances 39-35 and the contested possessions 149-144.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR…
With Heath Grundy missing through injury, it falls to Lewis Melican to take the big power forwards. He struggled last week and has had his issues against the big forwards in previous games, especially Adelaide.
Prediction
Sydney Swans by 4
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