Sydney won't be dictated to by Geelong's plans to tag Isaac Heeney or any of their other stars in their blockbuster top-four AFL clash.
Irishman Oisin Mullin has completed successful shutdown jobs on the likes of Nick Daicos, Harry Sheezel and Marcus Bontempelli, while Mark O'Connor can also play a tagging role.
The ladder-leading Swans are expecting similar treatment for in-form Heeney or Chad Warner from fourth-placed Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, but livewire Tom Papley isn't fazed.
"You don't want to be dictated to by them - most importantly play our way," Papley said.
"Isaac's a fantastic player. Got no doubt at least one of them will probably go to him and it's important to keep playing the team way, and that's what we'll try to do.
"Each team, if they get tagged, they obviously try to get to another player and block and things like that.
"So we'll look to do those things ... but we also can't be dictated to, like I said, and (we'll) play our way, and do what we do."
Star Cats defender Tom Stewart had 17 intercept possessions against the Brisbane Lions last week and having a plan for him will be important.
"He's a great player, has been for a number of years, he's consistent. He was fantastic last week," Papley said.
"We'll have to see what we do with him.
"We've got a meeting coming up in Geelong to see what we do. Not quite sure yet, but we'll play our way and see what happens."
Sydney haven't played at GMHBA Stadium since a 93-point loss in 2023, but had won four of their previous five games at the venue across the past decade - including triumphing in Kieran Jack's 200th game there in 2016.
"Massive game, biggest test in footy - Geelong in Geelong. And yeah, we can't wait for it," Papley said.
"Early days in my career we had some huge wins down there, and (the) Kieren Jack milestone is one that comes to mind.
"I'm not sure why we play that ground so well, but we've got good history there and looking forward to getting down."
The Cats are unchanged while Sydney youngsters Caiden Cleary and Tom Hanily replace Harry Cunningham and Billy Cootee.
