Striving to regain a coveted top-four AFL position, Sydney have no intention of allowing a desperate Collingwood to waltz through them, as Geelong did last week.

A win is critical to the aspirations of both clubs, who will clash at the SCG on Friday night for the first time in 15 years.

The Swans find themselves out of the top four for one of the few times in the last three seasons and will be without leading goalkicker Lance Franklin.

The 11th-placed Magpies start the round six points outside the eight and a loss would effectively extinguish any faint hopes of a finals campaign.

"They are fighting for survival and we want to try and get back in the top four and put our mark on that, so it starts against Collingwood," Swans senior assistant coach Stuart Dew said.

"We've been patchy all year, so we're hoping to string a few wins together heading into September."

Dew made it clear Collingwood can expect a much more physical challenge from Sydney than Geelong got last week in their 32-point win at Simonds Stadium.

"Certainly when Collingwood get their hands on the ball we want them to be really aware that Sydney are out there on the oval and being the stronger of the two teams in the contested ball department."

The Swans' star-studded midfield has come under more scrutiny than at any time in recent memory after some lacklustre efforts.

Dew conceded some of the criticism had been warranted.

One man who still rates the Swans midfield is Magpies coach Nathan Buckley, who played in the last SCG clash between the two clubs.

"They probably have the strongest and deepest midfield going around," Buckley said.

Collingwood, who have won 11 of their past 13 matches against the Swans, snapped a six-game losing streak last week against Carlton. - AAP