Sydney on a high, but watch out for dangerous Carlton

CARLTON may be 10 places behind the ladder-leading Swans, but Sunday's clash at Etihad Stadium could be a close one.

Marc Murphy

COLLINGWOOD, Hawthorn and defending premiers Geelong loom on the Swans' horizon in the last month of the home-and-away season, but Carlton still present a clear and present danger.

They may be 10 places behind the ladder-leading Swans - who are riding high after eight consecutive wins - but tomorrow's clash at Etihad Stadium could be a close one.

A courageous win over Richmond has recharged the Blues and kept their finals hopes alive.

"They're as strong as they've been over the last month," Sydney coach John Longmire said.

A month ago the only conversation surrounding the Blues was the future of coach Brett Ratten. Since then, Carlton have posted victories against the Magpies, Bulldogs and Tigers - but lost talisman Chris Judd to a four-week suspension for a chicken wing tackle.

The Blues beat the Swans twice last season, including a 34-point win at Etihad Stadium. This is not a game Sydney can afford to take lightly.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Eddie Betts vs Nick Smith: Betts remains the key to the Blues forward line, booting 40 goals for the season. Smith usually gets the opposition's best small forward. He had his hands full with the Saints' Stephen Milne two weeks ago when he kicked five.

Betts would be a big scalp for Smith and a nice confidence booster heading into September.

Matthew Kreuzer vs Shane Mumford: Kreuzer ran into some form against Richmond last week ahead of his clash with Mumford, who is returning from a knee injury.

Watch for Mumford to go forward and cause some headaches for Kreuzer and coach Ratten. The Swans can also gang up on Kreuzer with the much improved Mike Pyke.

Chris Yarran vs Lewis Jetta: Jetta has booted 38 goals for the season but has looked a little tired following the trip to Perth for the Eagles match. Yarran is one of the few with the speed to go with Jetta. If he can negate Jetta's effect the Blues will have won a significant battle within the broader contest.

TEAM CHANGES

EMERGING star Sam Reid is a significant loss for the Swans, but the return of Mumford in the ruck is huge.

Mumford has missed just one week with a knee injury and John Longmire is expecting him to make a full contribution.

"He did some training on Wednesday and pulled up really well," Longmire said.

"We'd expect him to come in and play like he was playing before he went out injured."

Jarrad Waite and Kade Simpson are the two big inclusions for Carlton.

Waite will make a big difference to the Blues' forward set-up by providing much needed assistance to the always dangerous Betts, who has carried the lion's share of Carlton's goalkicking duties.

Simpson returns from the concussion sustained in a sickening clash with Collingwood's Sharrod Wellingham. He is a vital cog in the Blues' midfield machine.

TACTICS

CONTESTED possession will decide this game. The Swans are ranked second in the AFL and the Blues eighth in this key category.

If the Swans - through Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O'Keefe, Jude Bolton and Kieren Jack - can play to their normal standard, Sydney's forwards will have more than enough opportunities to kick a winning score.

If the Blues can break even in this department they'll have a chance of victory as they move towards assembling a complete forward line.

VERDICT

SWANS to win. They've been the most consistent team in the competition over the past eight weeks and have tremendous depth in the midfield.

A ninth consecutive victory would equal the Swans' longest winning streak since relocating from South Melbourne in 1982.

Neil Cordy played 236 senior games for the Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans.