SYDNEY can all but sew up the minor premiership when it travels to Marvel Stadium to take on a stuttering Essendon on Friday night.
The Bombers missed an opportunity to climb back into the top eight when wayward kicking late in the game allowed Gold Coast to snatch a rare win on the road.
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The Bombers have now been on the losing side the past three times a goal after the siren has decided a result, but more immediately have their finals hopes hanging by a thread after seven defeats in their past 10 matches.
Sydney snapped a three-match losing streak when storming home with the last five goals of the game to snatch a thriller against Collingwood but still showed worrying signs before its fightback.
The victory has at least allowed the Swans to open up a buffer on the chasing pack and means a win over the Bombers should ensure a top-two finish and pair of home finals.
But John Longmire's men have been dealt a massive blow with Chad Warner ruled out of the match after succumbing to a sore calf. He joins Robbie Fox on the sidelines with the swingman suffering a knock to his kidney last week.
The Bombers have recalled Archie Perkins and Sam Weideman for his first game of the season, in place of Nik Cox and Alwyn Davey jnr.
Essendon v Sydney at Marvel Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Jye Menzie
Sydney: Corey Warner
