Swans coach John Longmire wants the challenges to keep coming, saying arm-wrestles like that experienced on Friday night will only strengthen the playing group as the business end of the season approaches.

After a tough stint in which three losses have come from the past five weeks, the Swans bounced back with a gutsy win against Collingwood at the SCG to keep a top four spot in sight.

The Magpies were publicly quoted as treating the clash like a cut-throat final given a spot in the eight was on the line.

With men down due to injury and trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Swans rallied to triumph in front of more than 38,000 fans to remain equal on points but behind on percentage with the fourth-ranked Western Bulldogs.

Longmire, speaking to media on Monday, is expecting another tough clash on Saturday when the Swans travel down the road to take on GWS at Spotless Stadium.

“We expect a real battle,” Longmire said. “We know that will happen and we look forward to it. It’s good to be playing those teams that are desperate and need to win to keep their finals hopes alive.”

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The Giants need to do just that, plus rely on other results, to scrape through to a maiden finals appearance.

In what’s building as a fierce rivalry, Longmire is wary of a Giants outfit “coming along in leaps and bounds”.

“They’ve had a very good season in terms of winning games of football and introducing terrific players to the team.

“We’ve seen them close up so we know they’ve got great depth and appreciate the ability they’ve got throughout their whole list.”

The Swans have lost only once against GWS in seven encounters, the defeat coming in last season’s opening round at Saturday’s venue.