Assistant coach Henry Playfair said the Swans face the unknown in their first NAB Cup contest this Sunday.
The Swans take new look Carlton and GWS sides at Blacktown International Sportspark this weekend, with both clubs having undergone significant personnel changes since the end of the 2012 season.
Playfair said Carlton, who are now under the guidance of premiership coach Mick Malthouse, are likely to be sporting a new game plan this year.
“Carlton is a little bit of an unknown with Mick coming in,” Playfair said.
“We’ve seen him coach over the last 20-odd years at other clubs, so we’ve got a bit of an idea of how they might play but nothing is certain.”
Playfair said he expected the Blues would be keen to cement their first win under Malthouse this weekend and would field a strong team throughout the NAB Cup.
“Certainly when it comes to player availability they’ve got a great list, so we’re expecting a few of their good players to play, so they will be tough,” he said.
“There is no doubt with Mick that he’ll be wanting to start off on the right note, so they will be out there to win and will be a formidable opponent.”
Looking ahead to the Swans’ second game this weekend, Playfair said he also expected GWS to come out firing in Sunday’s NAB Cup clash.
Playfair said he was anticipating a much-improved Giants side, with the club’s inaugural players now moving into their second year of football.
“They are a bit of an unknown as you’d expect first game in,” he said.
“We have watched them train a few times over the summer and their squad looks pretty healthy and it is amazing the amount of quality young kids they’ve got there.
“When you watch them train they kick it really well, they move it really well and they might be lighter bodies, but the draft picks from the season before have a season of AFL underneath them and another pre-season so they will take a step forward.
“Then you’ve got some of their new young kids who are likely to be running around.”
While the Swans’ priority this NAB Cup is to prepare its senior players for round one, Playfair said there would be no doubt the Swans would be playing to win throughout the pre-season competition.
“We always want to win every game,” he said.
“If you send the players out to play any game they will be flat out trying to win it, so they’ll be in there to win.
“For us as a club, what does take priority is trying to get our players ready for round one, so that’s probably the number one concern but winning no doubt will be in the players’ minds once they take the field, so I guess you have two forces there working together.”
