Sydney captain Josh Kennedy says excitement is building among the team ahead of Saturday afternoon’s elimination final against GWS at the SCG.

All eight clubs set to compete in September broke for a pre-finals bye on the weekend and, as Swans coach John Longmire declared last week, “a new season starts now”. 

The Swans are on the verge of a ninth-straight finals campaign, the longest current finals streak competition-wide.

Saturday will mark the second time in history the Swans and Giants have met in September, with GWS claiming victory in a 2016 qualifying final.

Kennedy said the Swans’ batteries are full of charge ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash.

“We’re certainly itching to get out there this week,” Kennedy said. 

“The anxiety levels are starting to rise and the excitement is certainly there for Saturday.

“You prepare for a final. It doesn’t matter if it’s for a knock-out game or you’re in a top-four spot. You prepare to come up against great opposition, you prepare for a high-intensity game and you prepare for a big crowd, which will be fantastic. Nothing too much changes but the intensity certainly goes up a level.”

While the Swans won eight of the first nine Sydney Derby battles, the past six are split down the middle.

The fierce rivals have locked horns on two occasions in 2018, with the Swans edging the Giants by 16 points in Round 3 and 20 points in Round 22.

Sydney trailed by two goals at the final change in Round 22 before storming home in a six-goal-to-one last term, star forward Lance Franklin the catalyst in a return of five goals for the night.

Fleet-footed GWS half-back Lachie Whitfield joined captain Franklin in the 2018 All-Australian team and is one of a number of Giants capable of reeling in plenty of possession.

The Giants’ stocks could be bolstered by the returns of lively small forward Toby Greene (hamstring) and experienced duo Brett Deledio (calf) and Ryan Griffen (hamstring), while a host of other GWS players are in the frame to slot back in themselves.

Longmire said GWS would present an almighty challenge.

“Whether it’s outside speed and run or winning contested ball on the inside, which Callan Ward and other guys are really good at, they’ve got an all-round balanced game,” Longmire said.

“There’s no denying that. Their record over the past couple of years, with their preliminary finals, speaks for itself.

“They’re a very good balanced team inside and out. It’s our challenge to try and reduce their advantages but also play the game we want to play.”