SYDNEY Swans champion Adam Goodes believes his team will carry an advantage into Saturday night's second elimination final against North Melbourne, thanks largely to the venue.

The Kangaroos have never played at ANZ Stadium before and Goodes believes that, coupled with the home town factor, may provide an edge for the Swans in the sudden-death encounter.

"We haven't played the Kangaroos up here for a while and they've never played at ANZ stadium either, so there's definitely going to be some sort of advantage", Goodes said on Friday.

"Playing on any new ground; as a player you walk out there with a little bit of awe and you say 'OK, this is where the Sydney Olympics was'. None of those players have ever been up here to see it before so with a big crowd, it can definitely be very intimidating."

The size of the crowd, though, has been a matter of some contention in Sydney during the week. But Goodes played down the issue as a factor in the match.

"Whether there's a big crowd there or not ... I still think that we'll have that home ground advantage," he said.

"It would be great to get a big crowd but whatever do come there -- the heart and soul -- they're the ones who've been there all year, and we know they'll be cheering just as hard as if there is 50,000 out there."

Goodes said his troublesome groin, which saw him rested from the Swans' 61-point win over the Lions last weekend, felt much better.

"I trained last night and got through everything I wanted to get through at good intensity so really I'm looking forward to Saturday night now," Goodes said.

He said that whenever he rested this season, he returned stronger and fitter. "So I'm looking forward to that feeling again. And if we lose this week there are no more games, so I'll be going 110%,” Goodes said.

"Hopefully there's another month to go."
With groin problems casting a cloud over the latter part of his season, Goodes said he may need a groin operation in the off-season.

Goodes' groin problems came to a head in round 17 when he struggled in the home loss to the Crows. Since then, the star onballer, who's amassed 336 disposals and booted 25 goals, has often been deployed in a less physically demanding role in the forward line.

Paul Roos indicated Goodes was again likely to play in a forward pocket or full forward role, a position the dual-Brownlow medallist exploited brilliantly against Fremantle in round 19 kicking eight goals in a best on ground performance.

"I'll start up forward and see how the game progresses. Playing that role up there I can stay there and be pro-active. I can stay there, but if I might push up the ground so be it,” Goodes said.

Looking ahead to Saturday night's clash, Goodes said North's game plan as "very simple and effective".

"They run hard and like to kick the ball to contests and back their big men to make the contests then back their little blokes on the ground to get front and square and use their legs," he said.

Last time the two sides met in round six, it ended in a draw. And despite losing to Port Adelaide last week by 76 points, Goodes noted that North were "the kings at bouncing back".