Luke Parker and Toby Greene are ready for another brutal Sydney derby

LUKE Parker and Toby Greene have been in the thick of the action from day one of the Sydney derby and won’t be taking a backward step in Saturday’s elimination final.

LUKE Parker and Toby Greene simply don’t know how to take a ­backward step.

Both have been in the thick of the action from day one of the Sydney derby and there for all its biggest moments.

Parker was involved in the first controversial incident between the teams when he had his jaw cracked in a high hit from the Giants’ Alex McDonald in the opening quarter of their clash in Round 1, 2012.

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He played out most of the game and lined up the following week against Fremantle, cementing his place as one of the hardest players in the AFL.

The duo were also there for the fiery 2016 qualifying final at ANZ Stadium when Shane Mumford, Steve Johnson and Heath Shaw led the charge against Sydney.

Mumford tangled with Swans superstar Lance Franklin and Johnson decked Josh Kennedy. GWS won the match by 36 points but Johnson’s hit on Kennedy cost him a week’s suspension and a spot in the preliminary final.

None of the GWS trio Mumford, Johnson (both retired) and Shaw (injured) will be running out onto the SCG on Saturday night, leaving a void Greene is happy to fill.

“It’s probably time for some of the younger boys my age to stand up,” Greene said.

“We will all have to step up, Mummy and Stevie had a real big impact that way and showed the way for us that day. No one will be taking a backward step. Any final is heated. There will be a lot of atmosphere at the ground and that will wear off on the players.”

Toby Greene and Luke Parker ahead of Saturday’s elimination final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Parker is expecting another brutal contest.

“All finals have a bit more emotion and desperation those things come with the territory,” Parker said.

“The aggression, desperation and attack on the footy are part of it and that’s when you have those moments. What it comes down to is who is willing to work harder for longer.”

Greene has played just seven matches this year after a series of hamstring and foot injuries.

But when he has played the Giants have been a different team and are yet to lose with him in the side.

He kicked two vital goals in their Round 17 win against Richmond and another two in the critical victory over Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval the following week.

“Toby is a bloody good player and very dangerous,” Parker said.

“He started his career as a gun midfielder and has made the shift to small forward with a lot of success. What he’s done is pretty incredible. He’s got a lot of experience now and gets them going.”

Greene says he is finally over the foot injury which has troubled him all year after breaking his big toe in the off-season.

“It’s the best I’ve felt all year,” he said.

“I’ve had a good month of training so hopefully we can go as deep into the finals as possible. Everyone will be a bit nervy so I won’t be too different to most players. It’ll be a packed stadium and it’s the first final so it’s going to be great.”

Originally published as Luke Parker and Toby Greene are ready for another brutal Sydney derby