The Sydney Swans will take an experienced squad into Friday night's inter-club match against GWS, with skipper Josh Kennedy and star forward Lance Franklin to be rolled out at Marrickville's Henson Park.
In place of the yearly intraclub, the Swans and Giants will square off in a cross-city practice match to keep the wheels rolling while the JLT Community Series kicks off elsewhere across the country.
Only eight clubs are in action in the opening week of the pre-season competition, giving the Swans and Giants the chance to break loose over a four-quarter fully-officiated contest.
Having recovered fully from off-season surgeries, Kennedy and Franklin have injected some extra star power in a Swans squad that boasts nearly 2000 games of AFL experience.
Kennedy will re-join his vice-captain Luke Parker in the centre for the opening bounce while the twin towers Franklin and Sam Reid will again work in tendem in front of goal.
Despite proving himself quite the (zooper) goal-kicker in last weekend's AFLX Tournament, Dane Rampe finds himself in his more familiar surrounds at full-back, flanked by talented small defenders Jake Lloyd and Nick Smith.
In Heath Grundy's absence, Aliir Aliir gets an opportunity alongside fellow key Lewis Melican to help contain the Giants' potent forward line.
Swans fans will also, for the first time this season, get to see Ryley Stoddart, the Club's third pick in the 2017 National Draft, in action while fellow draftee Tom McCartin gets another chance in the red and white again after showing glimpses of his work ethic in the AFLX.
The inter-club is the Swans and Giants final chance to put everything in place before the pre-season competition begins.
The Swans fly to Queensland for their first game, against Brisbane at Moreton Bay, before a rematch with the Giants in week three at Blacktown International Sportspark.
2018 Inter-club
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants
Friday, March 23, at 5.30pm
Henson Park, Marrickville
Sydney's squad
1 James Rose
6 Jordan Foote
7 Harry Cunningham
11 Tom Papley
12 Josh Kennedy
13 Oliver Florent
15 Kieren Jack
16 Gary Rohan
17 Darcy Cameron
18 Callum Sinclair
20 Sam Reid
22 Dean Towers
23 Lance Franklin
24 Dane Rampe
25 Ben Ronke
26 Luke Parker
27 Dan Robinson
28 Nic Newman
29 George Hewett
30 Tom McCartin
31 Harry Marsh
33 Ryley Stoddart
35 Sam Naismith
36 Aliir Aliir
38 Colin O’Riordan
40 Nick Smith
42 Robbie Fox
43 Lewis Melican
44 Jake Lloyd
GWS' squad
2 Jacob Hopper
3 Stephen Coniglio
5 Dylan Shiel
6 Lachie Whitfield
8 Callan Ward
10 Aidan Bonar
11 Will Setterfield
12 Jonny Patton
14 Tim Taranto
18 Jeremy Cameron
19 Nick Haynes
20 Adam Tomlinson
22 Josh Kelly
23 Heath Shaw
24 Matt de Boer
25 Lachie Keeffe
26 Dawson Simpson
27 Harry Himmelberg
30 Matt Flynn
31 Jeremy Finlayson
32 Ryan Griffen
33 Lachie Tiziani
34 Nick Shipley
38 Daniel Lloyd
39 Tim Mohr
41 Jack Buckley
42 Jake Stein
43 Dylan Buckley
50 Sam Reid
