THE BRISBANE Lions are as good as they’ve been since winning triple premierships in 2001-03, Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos says.

Speaking ahead of Saturday night’s rivalry round clash at the Gabba, Roos said he expected a testing evening for his side, which bounced back against Port Adelaide last week after losing the opening match of the season.

“Hopefully we can shut down their good players and play somewhere near to what we did against the Power last week,” Roos said.

“It's the best [the Lions] have been post their grand final appearances. But we're a little different to the past with some of our younger players and new players like Marty Mattner.”

The Swans haven't lost to the Lions since 2004, with their last meeting a heart-stopping draw late last season.

“We've always had good games at Brisbane,” Roos said. “We took a lot of our approach from them and the way they went about their footy. They were the hardest and toughest team around the ball for many years. You knew in order to beat them you had to match them in that area. We tried to copy what they did. Maybe that's the reason why we've always had some pretty close games with them.”

Roos identified Lions Daniel Bradshaw, Jonathan Brown, Travis Johnstone, Jared Brennan and full-back Daniel Merrett as players to watch.

In a poll earlier this week the Lions reportedly named the Swans their toughest opponent, and according to Roos the respect is mutual.

“I think if you polled some of our players who've played for some time I'd suggest they'd rate the Lions as one of our toughest opposition,” he said.

“They've just got some really good players who've consistently put pressure on the ball.”

Piling on pressure for the Swans on Saturday night will be dual Brownlow medalist Adam Goodes, who successfully beat a striking charge at the tribunal this week.

In the draw last time the two sides met, Goodes enjoyed a stellar night, picking up 28 disposals at the Gabba.

“Obviously you don't want to play without one of your best players,” Roos said. “There wasn't too much panic early in the week, but it's obviously good to have him playing.

“He's such a good player, such a dangerous player. He allows you to do a few more different things when he's playing.”

The Swans are set to go into Saturday's clash unchanged from last week's win against Power. In other news, Roos said injured ruckman Spida Everitt wouldn't play next week against West Coast at ANZ stadium, despite earlier reports that he'd be back.

“But he is on track to play reasonably quickly,” Roos said, adding with a smile:

“Sometimes, well not sometimes, but every time, you talk to a player they invariably say they are a fair way ahead of where the medical staff say they are.”