GEELONG captain Tom Harley still has vivid memories of his side's 2005 semi-final loss to the Sydney Swans, but will not use it as ammunition ahead of Saturday night's blockbuster at ANZ Stadium.

The Swans won their way into a preliminary final with a nail-biting three-point victory and, two weeks later, claimed their first premiership in 72 years.

"I think between Geelong and Sydney we've got a history of great games," Harley said. "[That's] going back to the final a few years ago when they went on to win the flag."

Four goals from Swans forward Nick Davis inspired the victory, and Harley remembers the fourth-quarter heroics which ended the Cats' season.

Geelong led by 17 points at three-quarter time but lost its lead in the dying minutes when Davis goaled.

Despite the result, Harley's recollection of the final moments is very clear.

"It was a great experience and, certainly from my point of view, one of the most memorable games I've ever played in," he said. "Although we lost, it was just a cracker.

"I remember seeing the ball sail over my head as Nick Davis kicked a goal. I wasn't on him at the time but it was gut-wrenching.

"I was literally eight metres from Nick and about two metres from the goal line.

"We put everything out there that night, so you can't regret not having a crack. It was certainly disappointing [but] it's no ammunition for [Saturday] night's game."

Davis won't be playing for the Swans this time, his season ended by a knee injury, but his fourth-placed side will look for a gauge when it hosts the competition's top team.

Harley and the Cats feel the same way.

"It's a nice tune-up for the finals," he said. "Sydney are in fourth so this could be a preview of a qualifying final in about a month's time.

"It's a showpiece game for the AFL and we're here to win. We'll certainly not take our foot off the accelerator at all."

And Harley warned that being 12 premiership points clear of second placed Hawthorn, and with just one loss for the season, will not encourage any respite from the Cats.

"We are realistic to know that we are on a hot streak and I guess you've got to cash your cheques when they're due," he said.

Harley also hinted that in-form Swan Adam Goodes, who kicked eight goals against Fremantle last week, will see a rotation of defenders.

"I think footy in general, there doesn't seem to be those one-on-one match-ups that [there was] in the past," he said.

"And Goodsey's one of those players who could be rotated through.

"His form was fantastic last week and there's plenty of homework to be done on him."