GWS midfielder Josh Kelly says his desperate side are embracing the weight of finals pressure in Saturday's Battle of the Bridge, the most significant Sydney AFL derby yet.
An AFL ground record crowd is expected for the eighth Harbour City battle at Spotless Stadium, where the Giants last season scored their only victory over the Swans.
The equation is simple for GWS - they must win their last three games to have any chance of qualifying for their first finals campaign - while the Swans are chasing a crucial top-four berth.
"There's a lot on the line for both of us," Kelly told AAP on Friday.
"We'll be putting pressure on ourselves to win, but we expect a really, really big game from the Swans."
GWS have already recorded a franchise season-best tally of 10 wins to exceed most pundits' expectations, but that doesn't mean they're satisfied.
"I don't think we're surprised at what we've done. We didn't really set any limits on our progress or where we wanted to finish," Kelly said.
"But now that we're in the position we are, we want to take that next step and play finals.
"To do that, we need to win our last three games, starting with the Swans this week, so I think we'd be disappointed if we didn't play finals."
Sydney coach John Longmire wants greater consistency from his side, who only have a 4-4 record since their bye.
He said the Giants were coming along in leaps and bounds.
"They've really improved their performance this year to be in that final-eight contention," Longmire said.
"We expect a real battle, we know that will happen and we look forward to it."
GWS have lost key defender and co-captain Phil Davis and dangerous small forward Devon Smith, but the former's absence has been offset by the continued unavailability of Swans forward spearhead Lance Franklin.
The Swans will be missing three other players in gun midfielder Luke Parker, speedster Gary Rohan and ball magnet Tom Mitchell.
Recalled Steve Coniglio and Adam Treloar will bolster the Giants against a Sydney midfield that has been both dominant and dominated in recent weeks, while GWS must rectify the recurring problem of inaccurate goalkicking.
"We really need to convert our chances because - against a side like the Swans - if you don't take your chances, then that's really going to come back to bite you, so goalkicking is going to be a big one for us," Kelly said.
THE SYDNEY AFL DERBY BY THE NUMBERS:
* Win-loss record: Swans 6 Giants 1
* Win-loss at Spotless Stadium: Giants 1 Swans 0
* Biggest margin: 129 points, Swans 24.27 (171) Giants 5.12 (42) SCG, rd 16 2013
* Smallest margin 21: Swans 16.15 (111) Giants 12.18 (90)
* Most goals by an individual: Swans: Lance Franklin: five (twice), Giants: Jeremy Cameron: four
* Largest Sydney derby attendance: 38,203 ANZ Stadium, rd 1 2012
* Largest attendance at Spotless Stadium: 17,102. Giants-Swans, rd 1 2014
Stats: AFL Tables
Share
