MICHAEL O'Loughlin says the Swans' younger brigade must step up against Collingwood on Saturday night to compensate for the loss of star on-baller Adam Goodes.
For the first time in 204 matches, the Swans will run out without their dual Brownlow Medal winner, who's serving a one-game suspension for rough conduct following the round 13 clash with Melbourne.
"Obviously we'll miss his run. It's a bit different without him," O'Loughlin said on Wednesday.
"But our younger players as we've shown all year have stepped up with the likes of Craig Bird, Jarred Moore and Jarrad McVeigh all playing a key role. So we're looking at those guys to help carry the load as well."
Collingwood will be without their own talisman in spearhead Anthony Rocca who picked up an ankle injury against the Bulldogs in round 13.
But O'Loughlin is still wary of a side that has had the Swans' measure over the last three meetings.
"They've had the wood on us and really touched us up in the [2007 elimination] final. And I know that still sticks in the back of our minds."
The Magpies defeated the Swans by 38 points to dump Paul Roos' side out of the finals in week one last September. It's a result – together with two regular season losses in 2007 including one at ANZ stadium – that has the Swans fired up.
"They match up pretty well on us and in that final, we were pretty disappointing. We'll prepare as per usual and we're going in with a bit of form so we're looking forward to the challenge."
The Swans are on a roll with six wins on the trot, although none against top eight opposition like Collingwood.
"It's such a huge game, a big crowd and a competitive match. Collingwood tackles really well and that will be something we need to keep improving on," added O'Loughlin.
"We've had a couple of good wins, we didn't play too well against Melbourne in Canberra and that's something we've looked at. We've gone away, reviewed the video and done our homework and come Saturday night, we'll either do it or we won't."
The mid-season break has refreshed O'Loughlin, 31, who said there was a buzz in the Swans camp after the five day break that saw the players go to all points of the compass to recharge their batteries.
"It's good to have that week off and get refreshed. Everyone's sort of buzzing around the place and can't wait to get out there on Saturday."
After Collingwood, the Swans face Hawthorn, Carlton, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
"The next month is a challenge for us. We're playing some really tough sides and some are on top of us on the ladder.
"This month will tell us if we're fair dinkum or not."
