Preview: Sydney v Collingwood

VENUE & TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday 5 July, 7:10pm AEST.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 211, Sydney 79, Collingwood 131, Drawn 1.
LAST TIME: Collingwood 18.17 (125) def. Sydney 13.9 (87), Elimination Final, 2007 at the MCG.

WALKING WOUNDED: Dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes will miss this week's crucial clash for the Swans after being found guilty of rough conduct on Melbourne's Clint Bartram in Canberra in Round 13. His spot is likely to be filled by ruckman Peter Everitt, who has sat out the past two matches with a hamstring injury. Other hamstring victims Nic Fosdike and Ed Barlow are still at least another week away from resuming. Collingwood is hopeful of welcoming back four key players - centre half-forward Travis Cloke (suspension), ruckman Josh Fraser (knee), forward Leon Davis (ankle) and defender Shane Wakelin (flu) - while Simon Prestigiacomo is likely to resume in the VFL this weekend. But the Pies will miss Anthony Rocca (ankle), Sean Rusling (shoulder) and Ben Reid (foot), probably for the remainder of the season.

FORM: The Swans have quietly gone about their business this year and are perched comfortably in fourth spot on the ladder. Since losing to the Western Bulldogs in Round 7, they have won six on the trot, albeit against teams that were outside the eight at the time (St Kilda has since moved up to eighth place). A win here - provided Geelong beats Adelaide on Friday night - would all but sew up a top-four position for the Swans at the end of the season. The Magpies have had an inconsistent season, but still hold down seventh position with seven wins and six losses. Four wins in a row from rounds 8 through 11 have been punctuated by two defeats in a row, to Carlton and the Bulldogs.

WHO'S HOT: Sydney co-captain Brett Kirk just keeps getting better with age. At 31, Kirk is one of the leading Brownlow fancies after a string of stand-out performances over the past few weeks. He is averaging 22.8 disposals but even more impressive is that he averages 6.3 tackles per game - first in the league. Last round against Melbourne he had 27 touches, five marks and eight tackles. Magpie Scott Pendlebury's star has continued to rise this year following a stellar 2007 in which he finished second in both the NAB Rising Star award and the Copeland Trophy. This season, the 20-year-old is averaging 22.8 possessions per game and also played a starring role for Victoria in the Hall of Fame match earlier this year.

WE THINK: Several big 'ins' for the Magpies will significantly bolster their line-up in what is shaping as one of the pivotal matches of the season. If the Swans win (and Geelong beats Adelaide), it will effectively shore up a top-four berth for Paul Roos' men so there is plenty to play for. 'Spida' Everitt's return as back-up for No.1 ruckman Darren Jolly will allow Lewis Roberts-Thomson to go back in defence - and if Josh Fraser fails to come up, the Swans will have a massive advantage in the middle. The Pies - who have won their past four matches against the Swans, including last year's Elimination Final at the MCG as well as their past two meetings at ANZ Stadium - will be keen to add to that record in Mick Malthouse's 200th game as Collingwood coach. But they have been woefully inconsistent so far this season and with a top-four spot on the line, the Swans should prove far too strong. Sydney by 35 points.