The Sydney Swans are under no illusion they’re headed for a second litmus test in as many games, Head of Development John Blakey labelling Richmond “the benchmark of the competition” ahead of a giant duel on Thursday night.

The Swans will front up for their second top-of-the-table clash in the space of three weeks when they meet the ladder-leading Tigers at Etihad Stadium.

Sydney and Richmond both enjoyed a bye in Round 14 and the Swans edged the Eagles at the SCG when they last laced up the boots, clinching a 15-point victory over a West Coast outfit that fronted the match as the competition’s front-runner.

Blakey says the Tigers clash will make for another mammoth stoush as the Swans eye a seventh-consecutive win. 

“It was one versus two a couple of weeks ago with West Coast and we find ourselves in that position again so it’s really exciting and makes for a great game,” Blakey said.

“It’s really exciting for our whole playing group. We’ve got some experienced boys that have experienced this sort of pressure before but we’ve got a lot of young fellas as well that are going to get a tremendous benefit from this and hopefully it will set them up for the back end of the year.”

The Swans and Tigers have met in just one top-of-the-table battle in VFL/AFL history.

They haven’t since Round 6, 1934 and would meet in the grand final later in the year for the second season in a row.

Although the Tigers took out the 2017 premiership, they are this year enjoying a richer vein of form as the rest of the competition does its best to keep up.

Ahead of Round 15, 2017 they had won nine games and lost four, whereas this year they have won 10 games and lost three.

The Swans will front the Tigers with a 10-3 record of their own and have won their last six games, a winning run kick-started by a thrilling victory over the Hawks at the MCG in Round 8. 

Star forward Lance Franklin will play his 100^th Swans game on Thursday and his stoush with key Tigers backman Alex Rance is sure to have a huge bearing on the outcome of the game.

Blakey said he backed Franklin to rise to the occasion in the massive first-versus-second encounter.

“He’s got a great record for lifting for the big games,” Blakey said.

“He’s special every week. We get to watch him every week and no matter who he comes up against he always puts his best foot forward and Thursday night will be no exception. We’re expecting a big crowd and he’s often performed on the big stage.”