The Sydney Swans midfield must get on top early in Saturday’s qualifying final to give the Swans the best chance of booting a winnable score against the Giants, according to assistant coach Brett Kirk.

It will be a midfield battle featuring some of the most elite ball users in the competition with names such as Hannebery, Parker, Kennedy and Jack taking on Ward, Sheil, Scully and Griffin.

The Giants finished as the number one ranked clearance side in the competition at the end of the regular season and will meet the Swans who finished number one for contested possessions.

Last time these two teams met the Giants  asserted dominance through the midfield and around the stoppages, something the Swans will be looking to counter early on Saturday afternoon.

“We need to bring a strong, contested brand of footy to win the ball inside as it’s going to help us in giving our forwards the most opportunities,” Kirk said.

“You have to put a lot of pressure on them as they have a lot of great ball users and lots of talent.

“We’re really looking forward to the battle.”

Just 11,000 tickets remain on sale for the first qualifying final with a bumper crowd expected to attend the first ever all-Sydney final at ANZ Stadium.

Despite the build-up and excitement to Sydney Derby XI things will be business as usual for the Swans.

“It’s exciting to be part of finals – that’s what you play footy for – but internally we prepare just as we would any other week for this game,” Kirk said.

“We review, preview and then drill into areas of the game that we want to improve.

“Whilst there is a little more at stake and a few more people in the stands this week it’s no different in terms of the build-up for us.”

Kirk said it was ‘an exciting time’ for the game in New South Wales to have two Sydney teams meeting in the first week of the AFL Finals Series.