The Sydney Swans are on a mission to quell one of the most imposing midfields in the competition in a monumental clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

A Swans midfield headlined by captain Josh Kennedy will meet Demons skipper Nathan Jones, on-ballers Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw and ruckman Max Gawn.

The Demons are ranked first in the competition in contested possessions, inside 50s and hit-outs, telling signs their midfield is crunching big numbers.

Sydney on-baller George Hewett said the Swans had set their sights on the highly anticipated midfield battle.

“It will be up to the midfielders and Callum Sinclair to try to beat Max Gawn and make it as much as a 50-50 contest as we can and go from there,” Hewett said.

“We’re going to have to match them in tackles and contested possessions and if we can it’ll go a long way to being in the contest right to the end of the game.

“It’s a big week this week with the midfielders they’ve got, with Brayshaw and Jones and those sorts of blokes. It’ll be a good contest.”

Hewett has been tasked with minding Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and a host of other midfield guns this season.

Oliver is among the top 10 in average disposals, contested possessions and clearances per game in 2018.

Brayshaw is averaging the sixth-most inside 50s, while Jones is collecting 25 touches per game and has been the heartbeat of Melbourne’s midfield for the best part of the past decade.

Whether Hewett plays a run-with role on Sunday, and who he’s sent to if he does, remains to be seen.

But what’s certain is Sinclair is set for a crunch clash with All-Australian big man Gawn.

It will make for back-to-back colossal ruck battles for Sinclair, who last week met formidable Magpie Brodie Grundy in Sydney’s win over Collingwood at the SCG.

Sinclair has this season taken on a mountain of responsibility after Kurt Tippett retired during the pre-season and Sam Naismith ruptured his ACL ahead of Round 1.

But Hewett said Sinclair, who last year played as a forward and pinch-hit in the ruck, had performed brilliantly in his new role.

“He’s been pretty huge this year in his form, especially around the ground with his contested marking and goal-kicking and at ground level,” Hewett said.

“He’s improved out of sight and he’s been really important for us in the ruck.

“Gawn is one of the best ruckmen in the competition and I’m sure Callum is looking forward to facing him.”