Sydney will place a big load on ruckman Shane Mumford, while also bracing for what looms as a bruising AFL battle against Fremantle at the SCG on Saturday.
Two first-round winners meet in a game that even this early in the season is likely to reveal a lot about their respective finals aspirations.
While Sydney had a week off after easily beating cross-town rivals Greater Western Sydney, Fremantle upset reigning premiers Geelong in their first regular-season game under new coach Ross Lyon.
“We had the most contested possessions of the round last week with 165 and, funnily enough, Sydney were second with 155,” said Lyon, a former assistant coach at the Swans.
“It’s going to be a fierce, contested game. You don’t become a resilient or uncompromising team off one effort, so we certainly need to back up against a quality opposition in Sydney.”
Sydney midfield coach Stuart Dew stressed the importance of the ground battle, but expected Mumford to rise to the challenge of opposing giant Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands in the air.
Mumford will do the majority of the ruck work, after Sydney opted against recalling Mark Seaby, who was named among the emergencies, along with part-time ruckman Jesse White.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who will make his 150th AFL appearance, is likely to play the role of back-up ruckman.
“We saw Geelong played two ruckmen (against Fremantle), but we decided to stick with the format that we’ve had,” Dew told AAP.
“We’ve got a couple of options that can pinch hit in the ruck, but Mummy (Mumford) is probably very similar to Sandilands.
“We expect him to play 85 per cent, 90 per cent on ball. Mummy is certainly very fit and able to do that as well.
“He (Sandilands) is one of the premier ruckmen and he’s going to get his hands on the ball a lot, so the ground level stuff is really important.
“Mummy is one that loves a contest and almost needs a challenge every week and he’s certainly got one.”
Dew said the return from injury of Sydney veterans Rhyce Shaw and Ryan O’Keefe would add more run to their backline and midfield respectively.
In another plus for Sydney, tough-as-teak teenage midfielder Luke Parker will play despite suffering a hairline fracture of the jaw in the first round.
Fremantle made one enforced change, with forward Jack Anthony replacing the suspended Hayden Ballantyne.
Anthony, Matthew Pavlich and Kepler Bradley will lead the Dockers’ attack at the SCG, where Fremantle won last year.