Sydney midfield star Josh Kennedy predicts fans and players will love an AFL grand final that looks full of fascinating sub plots and rivalries.
Kennedy is one of three former Hawks in the Swans side, along with Ben McGlynn and Lance Franklin, who by himself has probably generated a year's worth of publicity in under a week.
Both teams boast a potent forward line, with Hawthorn's league-leading offence pitted against Sydney's competition-best defence.
"It's going to be a great battle when you look over the whole field," Kennedy told AAP.
"If we're all playing to our strengths and at our best, it's going to make for a huge contest and one that I think the fans will love but we (the players) will love as well.
"They have got a lot of great players that we have to try and keep under wraps."
Hawthorn's squad is expected to contain former Swan Matt Spangher.
He was at West Coast (2006), Sydney (2012) and Hawthorn (2013) when those clubs won flags, but he didn't play in any of those grand finals.
Spangher is one of four Xavier College alumni likely to play on Saturday, along with Swans Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and Ted Richards.
"I speak to him (Spangher) when I can," Hannebery told AAP.
"We try and keep in contact, He's a really good fella.
"We were pretty close, me and Spangher, when he was here (in Sydney)."
Another connection between opposing players links Sydney's Dane Rampe and Hawthorn's Will Langford.
Both of them were East Sydney Bulldogs juniors and each also played at different times for the University of New South Wales/Eastern Sydney Bulldogs in the Sydney AFL.
"I don't remember him at all," said Rampe, who is two years older than Langford.
"He was on a Hawthorn scholarship when he was under 15, so I was aware of the name, coming through.
"It's obviously great to have another player from the (junior) club being represented in the AFL."
The grand final matchup will again create an interesting dynamic in the Kennedy clan, which is part of Hawthorn royalty.
Josh's grandfather John senior and father John junior both played for the Hawks.
Josh notched 13 games for Hawthorn before switching to Sydney prior to the 2010 season and played in their 2012 grand final win over Hawthorn.
He suggested most of his close family were now in the Swans camp, with John senior an exception.
"He certainly supports me, but deep down he wants Hawthorn to win," Josh said.
"He wants me to play well, but he's still a Hawthorn man through and through."
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