CARLTON youngster Patrick Cripps has been earmarked for extra attention from the Sydney Swans' star-studded midfield in Saturday's clash at the SCG. 

Cripps has 233 contested possessions this season - 80 more than the Blues' next best in Ed Curnow - at an average of 15.5 per game. 

The 21-year-old is also Carlton's best clearance player, winning almost twice as many in 2016 as teammate Bryce Gibbs.

The Swans are ranked No.1 in the competition for contested ball, compared to Carlton who are last, and have plenty more options through the middle of the ground.

Their best inside midfielder, Josh Kennedy, said that although the entire Blues’ on-ball division deserved respect, Cripps was their most dangerous player. 

"You look at him and his strengths are inside and his contested ball (winning), so that's something we have to get on top of," Kennedy said.

"We feel that it's a real strength of ours as well.

"I'm going to be trying to win the ball as well but it's about working together and trying making sure, as a team, we're on top in that area. 

"No doubt that'll go a long way towards winning the game."

The Swans take on the Blues after a nine-day break since their disappointing five-point loss to Hawthorn, their third single-figure defeat of the season.

Kennedy denied the Swans were having issues closing out tight matches, but said the extra time in-between games had been frustrating for the players.

"There has been a few more sleepless nights this week stewing over what could have been," he said.

"At the end of the day you've just got to learn from those situations and get better, and that's our goal.

"Every loss makes you hungrier and we've been in a few (close games) this year and ended up on the wrong side, but they've all been different.

"The approach (against Carlton) isn't really any different - we saw last week against West Coast, that their best is good enough to beat anyone. 

"We've seen in the competition this year that if you're off 10 per cent it can be really costly."