The NEAFL Swans have been boosted by over 400 games of AFL experience with Ted Richards and Ben McGlynn lining up against the GWS Giants in Saturday's curtain-raiser at the SCG.
Richards and McGlynn were noticeable omissions on Thursday ahead of the Swans' AFL clash with Carlton and will instead vie for senior recalls in the early game.
Richards has been named at a more familiar position at centre-half back while McGlynn will have a run on the wing in the pair's third game at the lower level this season.
They're just two of a raft of changes for the ladder-leaders, with emerging defender Harrison Marsh given the all clear to play again after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Richards, McGlynn, Marsh join leading goal-kickers Ned Reinhard and Matt Wilson as well as Jake Veale, Jake Bartholomaeus, Jared Deep and Jack Hardman who are all from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.
There will be 12 top-ups from the academy playing alongside 11 AFL-listed Swans in the 1st v 5th grudge match.
GWS claimed bragging rights in the clubs' last encounter, back in Round 11 at Spotless Stadium, overrunning the previously undefeated Swans in the second half to win by one point.
Six weeks on and the two sides are in contrasting positions with only four rounds left before finals.
The NEAFL Swans are cruising four games clear at the top of the ladder while the Giants, on the back of an upset loss to Brisbane last weekend, have slipped to fifth.
Despite being on different trajectories, Shaw remains wary of what the Giants' talented playing group and what they're capable of.
"They're always a dangerous team. They've got some really talented footballers," Shaw said.
"They beat us last time which was disappointing on our behalf, but they played some really good footy and taught us lessons in some certain areas.
"(But) areas we think we've improved on over the past month so we're looking forward to the challenge."
NEAFL Round 17
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants
Saturday, July 23
SCG, Moore Park, 10.05am
B: Colin O’Riordan, Ryan Hebron**, Darcy Baron-Hay**
HB: Nic Newman, Ted Richards, Sam Murray
C: Jack Hiscox, Jake Veale**, Ben McGlynn
HF: Jack Hardman**, Nathan Cooper**, Matt Wilson**
F: Ben Davis**, James Rose, Luke Robertson**
Foll: Kyle Galloway, Brandon Jack, Harry Marsh
Inter: Jared Deep**, Jake Bartholomaeus**, Toby Nankervis, Jake Brown**, Ned Reinhard**
Emer: Harrison Carr**
In: Harry Marsh, Ben McGlynn, Ted Richards, Ned Reinhard, Matt Wilson, Jake Veale, Jake Bartholomaeus, Jared Deep, Jack Hardman
Out: Harry Cunningham, Jordan Dawson, Tom Derickx, Jordan Foote, Isaac Heeney, Tyrone Leonardis, Xavier Richards, Callum McFadden, Will Gowers
* Denotes senior emergency
** Denotes QBE Sydney Swans Academy top-up
