Sydney's "biggest ever game of AFL" has almost arrived as the Sydney Swans prepare to do battle with GWS Giants at ANZ Stadium.

While only bragging rights have been the main prize on offer in each of the past 10 derbies, the stakes don't come much bigger so early into a finals series.

A one-way ticket to the Preliminary Final plus a week off is the carrot dangling in front of both sides, while the loser will have to contend with a cut-throat semi-final against either Adelaide or North Melbourne.

Historically, there's been no bigger game in GWS' time in the AFL.

They look prepared and ready to tackle their maiden finals series, having earned a top-four spot after an impressive regular season.

They boast a throng of quality midfielders, from insiders Callan Ward and Dylan Shiel, to outside runners in Tom Scully and Stephen Coniglio.

There's no shortage of leadership within the Giants' camp, having recruited experienced heads in Heath Shaw, Shane Mumford and Steve Johnson over the past few seasons.

They've played a huge role in fast tracking the team's development since its debut season in 2012.

Johnson and fellow small Toby Greene, plus the tall timber in Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton, make for an imposing forward line which helped the Giants to a league-high points tally (second behind Adelaide) after the regular season.

On the selection front, GWS has stuck to its guns by making zero changes to the same side which defeated fellow contender North Melbourne by 37 points in Round 23.

Sydney and GWS exchanged blows during the regular season, winning one game apiece, the last ending in a comprehensive win to the Giants in Round 12 at Spotless Stadium.

Overall, the Sydney has won eight of 10 encounters, including all three at ANZ Stadium.