Sydney vice-captain Dane Rampe is bracing for a brutal AFL final against GWS, admitting there is no love lost between the cross-town rivals.
The Swans and Giants square off at the SCG on Saturday. One club will advance to a semi-final against either Collingwood or West Coast while the other team's season will be over.
The stakes haven't been so high in a Sydney derby since 2016 when GWS belted Sydney by 36 points in a fierce qualifying final.
GWS veteran Steve Johnson cleaned up Josh Kennedy with a bump during that game while Shane Mumford left Kurt Tippett dazed with a jarring tackle.
Mumford's sledging of Lance Franklin, about the superstar's mental health issues, during that final also built further ill-feeling between the rivals.
"It was a pretty intense final. There was a lot of physicality and this week is going to be no different," Rampe told reporters on Thursday.
"I expect it to be fierce come the first bounce.
"We've got a lot of respect for the Giants but there's definitely no love lost."
Rampe expected the expansion club to bring the heat once again during this weekend's elimination final.
"They had blokes like Shane Mumford and Stevie J really set the scene for them in that game," he said.
"I have no doubt their leaders are going to stand up again. Cal Ward and Phil Davis will want to lead from the front and probably bring that physicality.
"We're looking forward to it, that's what finals are all about."
Sydney's rivals have been reluctant to pour fuel on the fire publicly in recent years but it's been a different story on the field.
Mumford's sledge is one of many verbals to have created derby spot fires during the past seven seasons.
"Chirping is a natural part of footy. Like any team, they're pretty good at it," Rampe said.
"Especially when they were younger probably.
"But the way the game is now there's not a lot of time for it. You're generally pretty rooted when you're walking to a stoppage."
Rampe's battle with GWS key forward Jeremy Cameron will be among many pivotal duels on Saturday.
Cameron was arguably best on ground in the 2016 qualifying final, booting three goals in the space of five minutes to bust the game open.
More recently, Rampe held Cameron to a single goal during the Swans' upset 20-point win over GWS in round 22.
"Jeremy is a very good player. His work-rate is pretty phenomenal," Rampe said.
"You can never switch off on him because he's damaging throughout the whole four quarters."
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