It will take a collective effort, rather than a reliance on one man, to quell West Coast’s Josh Kennedy.

That’s message from defender Nick Smith ahead of the Swans’ trip west for Sunday’s highly anticipated encounter against the Eagles.

Sitting on 53 goals for the season, 11 more goals than anyone else in the competition, Kennedy poses a considerable threat to the Swans’ back six were left found wanting against Hawthorn on Saturday night.

Just as Jarryd Roughead did in the hefty loss at ANZ Stadium, Kennedy poses a similar threat averaging 3.5 goals a game in 2015 to be red hot favourite for the Coleman Medal.

And to make matters worse, the Swans will be without key backman Ted Richards who was sidelined with a week’s suspension.

“Teddy has had I’m in the past so we’ll have to adjust that, not sure if it’ll be Sam Reid or Heath Grundy at this stage,” Smith said on Wednesday. “But our focus will be more about playing team footy and helping each other out.”

That help will come in the form of others further up the ground according to the premiership backman in Smith who will have his own hands tied with either a Mark LeCras, Josh Hill or Jamie Cripps.

One out with Kennedy, who leads the competition for marks inside 50, will be a huge responsibility for one man therefore pressure on the ball carrier when the Eagles are attacking on top of a chop out from fellow defenders will a crucial to limiting the power forward’s influence.

“For any defender if you’re on out all the time with the ball coming in without pressure, it’s bloody hard to defend,” Smith said.

“It will take a team effort up the ground to put pressure on…forwards, midfielders and defenders will have to work together to so their ball movement from being so quick up the ground.”

The Swans last met West Coast in Round 16 last season at Domain Stadium and walked away 28-point winners, the team’s 11th straight win of the season and eighth-straight against the Eagles, with Luke Parker starring with 33 possessions and two goals.

West Coast’s Kennedy finished with two goals in wet conditions.