SYDNEY veteran Luke Parker believes the Swans are back in a good headspace after recovering from a late-season slip to secure the minor premiership.

After losing premiership favouritism when Port Adelaide smashed them by 112 points - their biggest loss in 31 years - the Swans have won their last two games to ensure they finish on top of the ladder for the first time since 2016.

"It's nice to get some confidence leading into finals," Parker said on Friday.

"Finals are another step up, so you'd have your game plan absolutely locked in and ready to go from the start.

"The boys are in a really good headspace."

Sydney will complete its home-and-away campaign on Saturday night when it hosts Adelaide at the SCG.

The Crows had ambitions of making finals this season but will finish 15th regardless if they upset the Swans or not.

Adelaide is also dealing with the fallout of dropping highly talented youngster Josh Rachele for repeatedly failing to adhere to the club's team-first values.

"Even though they're sitting where they are, I don't think they're anywhere as poor as what their win-loss ratio looks like," Parker said.

"It's always a tough one, that last game of the season, because other teams come and kind of throw everything at it. 

"We've got to be ready for them to basically play their best, and we need to show up ready to go to take some good form into the finals." 

Even though Sydney has been the dominant team of the home-and-away season, its poor first quarters have become a talking point.

The Swans could have been far further behind at quarter-time against Essendon last week, but the Bombers' inability to convert left Sydney in the contest.

Swans coach John Longmire has had just about enough talking about their slow starts, but Parker concedes it is something that had been addressed.

"When you're at the top, teams really set themselves for a contested, high-pressure game," Parker said.

"We just need to get our basics right early and play with our system and our game plan."

Sydney defender Tom McCartin has been rested with Aaron Francis returning in his place.

Rachele is one of four changes for the Crows, including concussed star Izak Rankine, following their fiery Showdown loss against Port Adelaide.

But veteran forward Taylor Walker has made the trip to Sydney and will test the Swans' defence.