The pair come into the side in place of Ben McGlynn, who will miss with a calf injury, as well as Gary Rohan who will return to the Swans reserves this week.
Adam Goodes has also been ruled out of this weekend’s match and will not return for the remainder of the season after failing to complete the club’s final training session on Thursday.
Swans coach John Longmire said while it was disappointing to rule Goodes out, it was exciting to welcome two finals’ debutants into the team for Saturday night’s match.
“It has been exciting for Cunningham and Biggs,” Longmire told SwansTV.
“They played well against Hawthorn a couple of weeks ago and they were probably a bit unlucky to go out of the team, but obviously we had some other names coming in that meant that they went out.
“They both looked as though they could stand up to pretty intense pressure, which is obviously what we’ll get this week, and I’m sure they’re really looking forward to it.
“They’re really excited, as I’m sure the other players are to have those young blokes in the team, and we’re looking forward to the Blues.”
Longmire said both McGlynn and Rohan would miss this weekend’s match with calf issues, but said Rohan was likely to recover in time for Sunday’s NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final.
“Benny McGlynn’s got a calf (injury) that we thought would be right, but unfortunately hasn’t come up,” he said.
“Gary Rohan we will still look to play in our reserves and we’re hopeful he’s able to play in that and run around and enjoy that and get a bit of good game time under his belt.
“He’s a little bit sore today in his calf but he should be right by Sunday and hopefully he’ll have a good run around in our twos.”
The Swans will face an in-form Carlton outfit on Saturday night, who come into this weekend’s match winning four of their last five matches, including a 20-point elimination final win over Richmond last Sunday.
“Their month of form has been pretty solid,” Longmire said.
“They’ve had some really good wins and obviously last week against the Tigers was a terrific second half and they played some really good football.
“Their best players are playing well and that’s what you need at this time of the year and they’ll be a tough opponent, but we’re really looking forward to Saturday night (as well).”
Longmire encouraged all Swans fans to make the trip to ANZ Stadium this Saturday night to help get the team over the line against the Blues.
“It’s an elimination final now and we’ve earned the right to have a double chance and we’ve earned the right to have a home final this week, so it’s important that hopefully as many Swans supporters get to that game,” he said.
“We want to see a sea of red and white cheering us on from the first bounce right up until the end.”
In other selection news, Longmire said dual premiership player Lewis Roberts-Thomson was likely to play his first game since April when he lines up for the Swans reserves this weekend in Canberra.
“The plan is for Lewis to play reserves on Sunday,” he said.
“He’s actually trained pretty well in the last couple of weeks and if he pulls up well tomorrow he’ll play on Sunday.”
AFL Finals Week 2: Semi Final
Sydney Swans v Carlton
Saturday, September 14
7.45pm
ANZ Stadium
B D.Rampe, T.Richards, N.Malceski
HB A.Everitt, H.Grundy, N.Smith
C T.Mitchell, K.Jack, J.McVeigh
HF D.Hannebery, K.Tippett, C.Bird
F J.Bolton, M.Pyke, J.White
Foll S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, R.O'Keefe
I/C S.Biggs, H.Cunningham, L.Jetta, L.Parker
Emg B.Jack, J.Lamb, D.Towers
In: H.Cunningham, S.Biggs
Out: B.McGlynn (calf), G.Rohan
Milestones: N.Malceski - 150 games, D.Hannebery - 100 games
