Sydney's audacious bid to make the AFL finals faces another test against the last side to make a miraculous charge into the play-offs.
Thursday's impressive 46-point win over reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs at the SCG lifted Sydney to a 4-7 record.
It bumped them three places up the ladder to 13th and ensured they will be no more than two wins off eighth by the end of the round.
The resurgent Swans, who have won four of their last five after a 0-6 start, get a nine-day break before tackling Richmond at the MCG.
Three years ago, the Tigers were in an even worse mid-season position than the 2017 Swans, floundering in the lower reaches of the ladder with a 3-10 record after four straight losses.
But the Tigers then reeled off nine straight wins to scrape into the top eight.
Long-suffering Richmond supporters are breathing more easily this season with the club firmly entrenched in the top eight with a 7-4 record.
They were fourth going into their bye week and can't drop more than one spot despite not playing.
Sydney coach John Longmire is clearly an admirer of the way the Tigers go about their business and knows his team will face a tough test at the MCG on Saturday week.
"They have been fierce around the contest," Longmire said of Richmond following the Swans' win over the Bulldogs.
"Their pressure has been enormous, that's the thing I've really noticed this year.
"They play a really strong hard brand of footy, so that's a good challenge for us."
Sydney utility Gary Rohan, who pulled out with sickness a few hours before Thursday's game, is expected to be available next week.
Recalled former co-captain Kieren Jack dlslocated fingers late in his comeback game against the Bulldogs, but earned praise from Longmire for lifting after a quiet first half.
"He was pretty important for us just in a leadership sense in that first half, and then he got going when he started to find his sea legs," Longmire said.
"His third quarter was really good and he started off well in the the last quarter as well, went in for centre bounces, and dislocated a couple of fingers there at the end, but he was pretty good in the second half.".
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