WHERE AND WHEN: AAMI Stadium, Saturday September 8, 2.45pm
LAST TIME: Adelaide 15.9 (99) defeated Sydney Swans 14.10 (94) round six, 2012 at the SCG
TV and RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all of Saturday's Match Day Information

The Swans' loss to Geelong last weekend gifted Adelaide this home final, but taking advantage of the AAMI Stadium crowd won't be easy for the Crows. With the Swans the No.1 contested football side in the competition and the Crows No.2, a tough, uncompromising game is assured. With a home preliminary final the spoil for the victors, Saturday afternoon is sure to be a fierce battle.

THE FOUR POINTS

SYDNEY SWANS

1. Has the Swans' confidence taken a dent from their results over the past month? Games against Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong in the run home always loomed as a huge test, but losing all three knocked the Swans out of the top two and forced them to hit the road in week one. The players insist they still feel positive about their form and their chances in the finals and they will need plenty of self-belief to knock off the Crows in Adelaide.

2. Adelaide may have found multiple avenues towards goal against Gold Coast, but that is also one of the Swans' great strengths. No less than 12 Swans have kicked double-figure goals this year, led by Lewis Jetta (40 goals), Adam Goodes (32), Ben McGlynn and Sam Reid (both 29). The Crows will have their hands full shutting them all down.

3. Adam Goodes and Jude Bolton. The veteran duo extend their club record with their 21st finals appearance this week. Goodes has been building his form after an injury-interrupted campaign, averaging almost 20 possessions, eight marks and two goals over his past three games. Bolton returned from a knee injury against Geelong and will be better for the run. The two warhorses will be doing all they can to drag their side over the line.

4. The Swans had the AFL's best defensive record over the course of the home and away season, conceding just over 74 points a game. Between rounds one and 21, the club gave up 100 points just once - in a defeat to St Kilda in round nine. But the Hawks and Cats both brought up triple figures against the Swans in the past two weeks. It will be important for the visitors to recapture their miserly ways if they are to keep hold of Taylor Walker, Kurt Tippett and the rest of the Adelaide forwards.

ADELAIDE

1. Have the Crows had enough of a test in the lead up to the finals? A favourable draw certainly helped them reach second position on the ladder at the end of the minor round, but will playing lower ranked teams over the past month, including Gold Coast and Melbourne, have the side underdone? Brenton Sanderson doesn't think so, claiming the Crows have trained as if it was September since October last year.

2. Saturday's contest is going to be brutal. Only three contested possessions separate these two sides from being the number one and two contested teams in the competition, so whichever unit can win the hard ball will be very well placed to progress to a home preliminary final. The Swans couldn't match Geelong's hardness at the weekend and paid the price, so they'll be hell bent on returning to the style that has served them so well this weekend.

3. Even without Taylor Walker in the team against the Suns, the Crows were deadly when in attack. They were inaccurate in front of goal with 21 behinds, but found 12 separate goalkickers to boot 22 goals. Ian Callinan and Graham Johncock oozed X-factor with four goals each. With so many players able to step up and kick multiple goals, Adelaide is a tough team to stop. In saying that, there's no doubt the expected return of Walker this weekend is a boost. He's a great target who can do everything you'd want from a forward.

4. Sam Jacobs managed 44 hit-outs against the Swans in Adelaide's five-point win in round six and shapes as a vital player if the Crows are to enjoy success on Saturday. As he has done all season, Jacobs tapped to advantage against the Suns last Saturday and kicked a goal during his time forward in the final quarter. His battle with Shane Mumford is going to be crucial. Mumford missed the sides' last encounter through injury and whether Jacobs can get the better of him will be telling.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL