Sydney Swans defender Jeremy Laidler says Friday night’s NAB Challenge clash with GWS will provide the perfect springboard into round one.

Laidler has been included in the 29-man squad to face the cross-town rivals at Drummoyne Oval. It will be the Swans’ second contest of the pre-season competition following their 21-point defeat of Port Adelaide in Blacktown almost two weeks ago.

The Giants have selected a strong squad with many of the club’s talented youngsters named on top of a wealth of experience in Steve Johnson, Heath Shaw, Ryan Griffin and former Swans ruckman Shane Mumford.

Speaking after Wednesday’s training session in Drummoyne, Laidler said he believes Friday night’s expected sell-out will provide an ideal tune-up game ahead of the season.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Laidler said.

“I’m pretty sure they’re going to field a solid side so it’ll be great preparation for us.

“It’s a different feel around the club now games have started – our intensity at training has really picked up.

“We take these games really seriously. Hopefully we have a good game against GWS, back up against Carlton next week and enjoy the week off in preparation for round one.”

That preparation and the timeliness of back-to-back games has been endorsed by John Longmire, he is happy with the Swans’ NAB Challenge fixture.

Longmire says having two consecutive games before the league-wide break in readiness for round one was “the right way to do it”.

“The good thing is we play two in a row now, that’s really good preparation we think for the start of the season,” Longmire added.

Drummoyne Oval has played host to a NAB Challenge game only once before. The Swans took on Fremantle in wet and windy conditions last year, with the home side coming away with a nine-point win.