WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Saturday, July 7, 4.40pm
LAST TIME: Sydney Swans 18.11 (119) d Brisbane Lions 9.13 (67), round 24, 2011 at the SCG
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
MATCH DAY INFORMATION: Click here for all Saturday's match day information

The Swans are on a nice roll at the moment, winning five of their past six games and sitting second on the ladder with the AFL's best percentage. They have also won four straight against the Lions, with their last defeat coming in 2009. But this week they lock horns with a rejuvenated Brisbane outfit that is showing some signs of life under coach Michael Voss. Starting the season with just two wins from their opening seven matches, the Lions have claimed four of their past six contests and moved within one victory of eighth place. The Swans are in form and hard to beat at home, but should expect a tough tussle on Saturday afternoon.

THE FOUR POINTS

SYDNEY SWANS

1. The battle for the all-important top four is incredibly tight, with just one win separating first from sixth. All of the top six teams won in round 14. While the Swans sit second, they can't afford any slip-ups, starting this week against an improving and in-form Lions outfit.

2. The Swans are finding a variety of avenues to goal in 2012, starting with the surprise straight shooting of Lewis Jetta and his 31 goals to date. He was among seven multiple goalkickers for the Swans against GWS last week and the Lions face a tough task shutting them all down.

3. John Longmire's squad has the AFL's best defensive record this season. But they come up against a Brisbane Lions side that has kicked 18 goals in each of its victories over the Bulldogs and Melbourne. Ted Richards, Heath Grundy, Alex Johnson and the rest of the Swans' back six will need to be on their game at the SCG.

4. Adam Goodes is a regular talking point and will be so again this week as he begins to find form. Fifteen possessions and a return of 2.2 marked a significant improvement in his second game back from injury. He could just be ready to recapture his brilliant best and torment the Lions, who need a victory to continue their push for a finals berth.

BRISBANE LIONS

1. The last significant road victory for the Lions came, ironically, against the Swans in round 22, 2009. The rare eight-point victory in the Harbour City ensured sixth place and a home final. If the Lions have any ambitions of sneaking into the top eight this year, they need to repeat the dose on Saturday.

2. The Lions' Three Rs - Daniel Rich, Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden - have been on fire this season. Arguably all in the top five of the club's best and fairest at this stage, the young midfield trio has been instrumental in the back-to-back wins over the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne. Against the Bulldogs they combined for 93 disposals and against the Demons, 85. Their output has helped take the heat off the broad shoulders of Simon Black.

3. Perhaps the most obvious element breathing life into the Lions' season is their willingness to play-on and spread the ball quickly. This flair has started from the halfback line with the laser left boot of Josh Drummond, the increasingly reliable Mitch Golby and the dash of Irishman Pearce Hanley all features. Teams like to lock-down Drummond, but, as he showed with 24 touches and three goals against the Demons, Hanley can do just as much damage.

4. Slowly but surely, Jonathan Brown is getting back to his best. Coming off three facial surgeries in 12 months prior to the season, the Lions' skipper was a bit rusty early in 2012. In the past six weeks though, Brown is averaging 17 disposals, 10 marks and 2.5 goals. The Swans need to be wary.

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