SYDNEY is aiming to bounce back to form as it hosts a Collingwood side which is fighting for finals in Friday night's blockbuster at the SCG.
The Swans (14-6) were motoring towards a Grand Final berth with a 13-1 start to the season before hitting the skids to drop five of their next six matches, most recently including a 112-point humiliation to Port Adelaide.
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Sydney's grip on a top-four finish is now even at risk as its strength around stoppages falls apart and with a tough test against the revitalised Magpies to come.
Collingwood (10-8-2) celebrated Scott Pendlebury’s 400th match in style with a win over arch-rival Carlton that made it back-to-back victories that have bolstered its top-eight hopes.
But the Pies have little margin for error after a streak of four consecutive defeats before that left them with a middling percentage, and with the wounded Swans then in-form Lions to come next.
The Swans have made four changes for the clash, headlined by the inclusions of Dane Rampe and Joel Amartey, while Sam Wicks and Peter Ladhams are among those dropped.
For the Pies, Joe Richards comes in at the expense of the hamstrung Jordan De Goey.
Richards will start as the Magpies' sub, while Caiden Cleary is Sydney's starting sun.
Sydney v Collingwood at the SCG, 7.40pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Caiden Cleary
Collingwood: Joe Richards
