RISING Star winner Callum Mills has no doubt that last year's spiteful qualifying final turned up the heat in the Swans' rivalry with the Giants.

The Swans finished 2016 as minor premiers but were put on their backsides by GWS in the first ever all-Sydney final at ANZ Stadium, both on the field and on the scoreboard, in a 36-point loss.

Star midfielder Josh Kennedy was taken out by Steve Johnson, with the Giant banned for a week for the high bump, Kurt Tippett suffered a fractured jaw in a collision with Callan Ward and Shane Mumford, and Mumford was later forced to apologise for verbally taunting Swans superstar Lance Franklin over his 2015 mental health issues. 

Mills will face the Giants in Friday night's JLT Community Series game at Blacktown and said on Wednesday that pre-season game or not, there would be plenty of spice in the clash.

"Definitely, they're a cross-town team and we go out there trying to beat them every single time," he said.

"We've had some close encounters over the past year or two and it's really exciting.

"We don't like losing to them and they don't like losing to us, so it's important that we go out there and play good football for four quarters, that’s what every team is aiming to do. 

"Last year's final was hard to take, but we've moved on from that and learnt from it. 

"They're a great team and they're premiership favourites for a reason, they're going to put out a good team and hopefully we are as well, so we're going to be as competitive as we can and hopefully get the win."

Franklin will play his first game of the year against the Giants after recovering from a shoulder reconstruction, while All Australian defender Dane Rampe (hip), ruckman Sam Naismith (shoulder), former co-captain Kieren Jack (rested), Jake Lloyd (sore) and Jeremy Laidler (elbow) are also expected to take the field.

Mills said it was important for the Swans to get their best players back on the park to work on their chemistry ahead of round one, and that Franklin was at the top of that list. 

"He's really excited and pumped to get out there, he gets really itchy when he's not playing games, so it's great for 'Bud' to get out there and have a run around," he said.

"You always want to practice with your best team and that’s what we try and do every week.

"We don't try and fluff around with it, we just get on with the job and try and get the win, no matter what game it is."