SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos says his team is under no illusion as to Hawthorn’s talent despite the reigning premier’s indifferent start to the season.

Both the Hawks and Swans head into Sunday’s clash at the MCG with a 5-5 record and both would cherish a confidence-boosting victory heading into the split round.

“We know what they’re capable of – that’s why they’re the premiers from last year,” Roos said before training at the SCG on Friday.

“Their midfield’s still pretty much intact, their forward line’s very much intact. Obviously they’ve been hurt through their defence with a lot of their defenders out [but] if anyone’s got a margin for error, it’s normally the premiership team from the year before, and clearly the runner-up in Geelong.”

Roos said the Swans were likely to make just one change from last weekend’s 40-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, with Craig Bird replacing the omitted Luke Ablett.

He said improving the poor ball use that cost the Swans so dearly in the first half at Manuka Oval in Canberra had been a priority.

“When you turn the ball over, your team’s running forward and out of position and that’s why they got a lot of easy goals – because we just didn’t use the ball well,” he said.

“That was the main focus of the week – just showing the players that we did get hold of the ball, even in that 40-minute period of the game where they kicked 13 straight goals, but you just can’t give it back in today’s footy.”

While much of the focus on Sunday will be on the two sides’ potent forward lines, Roos said the game would be decided in the midfield.

“They get a lot of drive from their stoppages; we get a lot of drive from our stoppages. They’ve got a very, very good forward line; we’ve got a very good forward line,” he said.

“If they get a lot of service to [Lance] Franklin and [Jarryd] Roughead and [Cyril] Rioli and [Mark] Williams and company, it’s very hard to stop them.

“Equally, if we can do well around that area of the ground … that’s where it’s going to be won and lost.”

Roos said the Swans’ 38-point win in round two would have little bearing on Sunday’s game, other than making it easier for both coaches to plan their respective strategies.

“They’ve got some different personnel, obviously – some in, some out – but fundamentally we try to do the same things and they try to do the same things [as in round two],” he said.

“It probably helps but it certainly doesn’t guarantee anything for either of us. We’re both trying to find consistency as teams and we’re both 5-5, so it’s a critical game for both footy clubs.”