The former Collingwood flanker said he expects to play a similar role for the Swans as he did with the Magpies, using his pace to rebound from defence and changing through the midfield.
“It’s a learning experience for me at the moment. [I’m] playing my first game for the Swans so it’s pretty important for me to know the game plan and just fit in,” he said.
With 10 AFL pre-seasons under his belt, Shaw is among the more experienced Swans taking the field at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
He said the Swans and Collingwood shared a similar level of professionalism in their preparations, but there was less public pressure on the players in Sydney.
“There’s not the big crowds coming along to training, there’s not as many people watching, you’re not under the scrutiny that you are down in Melbourne,” Shaw said.
“But… you have to be professional, you have to go about it the right way and that’s the way I’ve gone about this pre-season.”
Shaw said the Swans’ relative inexperience against a strong Power outfit would make victory on Sunday a tough ask, but it wouldn’t stop them trying.
“We’re going out to play hard and, hopefully, [we’ll] win the game,” he said.
“It’s a learning experience for a lot of the younger blokes in their first game and for me as well, just trying to fit into the side.
“If we win the game, we win the game; if we don’t, I don’t think it’s that big a deal.”
One of those first-gamers is rookie Canadian Mike Pyke, who will line up in the ruck against the Power after making the transition from international rugby union.
Shaw said Pyke was “a big scary unit” who had remarkable great ability for his size.
“He’s really excited and he’s going to be a real asset for us because he’s big, he’s strong and he’s really fast,” he said.
“If he can get through the first couple of games, you never know, he could play a senior game this year.”
Dream Team watch – Rhyce Shaw is rated a $386,500 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
