Head to head: Sydney Swans v Carlton
Played 223
Sydney 90
Carlton 127
Draws 6 

Last time we met:
Round 2, 2016, Etihad Stadium
Sydney 20.11 (131) d Carlton 10.11 (71)

The Blues haven’t beaten the Swans at the SCG since 2011 and will be hungry to get back on the winners list after last weekend’s nail-biting loss to West Coast.

Carlton has made two changes with big forward Levi Casboult returning after a one-match suspension, while young gun Blaine Boekhorst has earned a call-up.

Making way are Jed lamb and Kristian Jaksch who have been omitted.

No. 1 draft pick Jacob Weitering also boarded the flight with the Blues from Melbourne on Friday morning, despite copping a cork to the leg last weekend.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton fronted media at Melbourne Airport before the team’s departure and said the defender could be set for more time on Swans forward Lance Franklin.

"There’ll be times when he does (play on Franklin) because we play collective defence,” Bolton said. 

The Blues coach is also readying his side for a hotly contested battle through the midfield.

"It’s a ground where you’re going to have a lot of contested footy and stoppages, stoppages are going to be critical,” he said.

"We know they’ve got some real strong bodies in around there: Parker, Kennedy, Hannebery, so it’s going to be a great contest for Gibbs, Curnow, Cripps, we’re looking forward to that challenge.” 

The Blues sit 14^th on the ladder with six wins and 10 losses, while the Swans are fifth. The two sides sit in stark contrast in terms of contested possessions, with the Blues ranked 18th (130.6) in the competition while the Swans sit first (164.0).