Sydney coach John Longmire has lauded North Melbourne's pressure as the best in the AFL as he prepares for Saturday's showdown with former apprentice Rhyce Shaw.

Shaw learned plenty from Longmire during his time at the SCG, playing 143 games for the Swans then seamlessly stepping into their coaches' box.

The Marvel Stadium match will be the first time the pair, who remain close and checked in with each other during the COVID-19 stoppage, square off as head coaches.

The style of football that helped North topple GWS in a round-two upset, when the Giants struggled to find space and generate their normal run, has clear similarities to that which the Swans have long prided themselves on.

"He's got them playing really competitive footy. They're the No.1 pressure team in the competition," Longmire told reporters.

"That's a real credit to him.

"They're playing with fierce pressure. What he's based that on, I don't know.

"You base your coaching philosophies on a number of different things and experiences you've had over the years, not just one.

"He was here for a long time."

Longmire showered Shaw, who joined the Kangaroos as an assistant coach for the 2019 season then completed a rapid rise after Brad Scott's departure, with praise.

But the 2012 premiership coach, himself courted by North last season before recommitting to the Swans, downplayed the obvious subplot to Saturday's contest.

"It doesn't matter how close you are to people - and I'm certainly close to Shawy - when you start to compete against them then all bets are off until the end of the game," Longmire said.

"I'm thrilled Shawy and (former Sydney assistant) Stuey Dew are coaching clubs ... I feel good about that but it doesn't mean you go any easier on game day."

Hamstrung Swans ruckman Sam Naismith will spend at least another week on the sidelines, leaving Callum Sinclair with a major challenge against in-form North veteran Todd Goldstein.

Goldstein was arguably best on ground against the Giants, helping himself to 51 hitouts, nine clearances and a key goal.

"He's an elite ruckman ... and looks like he's getting better as he gets older," Longmire said.

The Swans will share a plane with GWS on Friday, an arrangement that Longmire was happy to joke about rather than complain.

"He (GWS coach Leon Cameron) tends to get up the front a lot more than I do. I'll have to send him a text from row 48," Longmire said.