Feisty Sydney forward Tom Papley has warned Hawthorn's inexperienced defence to prepare for a working over with the Swans vowing to continue the aggression that has revived their season.
Last year's grand finalist is yet to identify which fledgling Hawk will come under close attention on Friday night but youngsters Kaiden Brand, Blake Hardwick and Ryan Burton are about to get a taste of how fierce the rivalry is between the two clubs.
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The Swans have gone from the hunted to the hunter by targeting key players – usually the opposition's chief playmaker from defence. Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen, Gold Coast's Adam Saad and Essendon's No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath have all felt the brunt of the red hot Swans' hard-nosed approach – and now it will be the Hawks' turn.
"We're not going to change anything. We're not sure who we're going to go after yet but we'll still be aggressive at the ball and see what happens," Papley said.
Although small in stature, Papley has been one of the key protagonists for the Swans with his in-your-face play and willingness to physically unsettle opponents.
"It's the way I play. You don't go out there to make friends on the field," he said.
"When the siren goes you shake your opponent's game and it's all good after the game. Nothing too dirty personally, it's just about physically intimidating and something that puts them off their game.
"It's been working for us. We'll continue to do that. Teams were coming at us and we turned it around. That's the way we're going about it now, it's working for us and we'll continue doing that."
![Tom Papley: "You don't go out there to make friends on the field."](http://web.archive.org./web/20170728040511im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/k/7/q/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxjx6b.png/1501145255683.jpg)
The Hawks insist they will be ready for what the Swans throw at them, but would not overstep the mark like Melbourne's Tom Bugg did.
"It's a difficult one because you need to channel your aggression at the football and the opposition when they've got it," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.
"The off-the-ball niggle and that sort of stuff, as you can see if you don't manage it well like 'Buggy' didn't handle it too well three or four weeks ago, it can easily take your mind and focus off what you need to do.
"We're all about playing tough and hard footy and we know that's coming. That's all part of the game.
"Hawthorn-Sydney clashes have been really physical for a long, long period of time but most of it has been around the game played in a great spirit and most of that stuff channelled towards the footy and the opposition when we've got it.
"We expect the team that's going to win tomorrow will do that the best."
Papley has been an important contributor to the Swans in their rise from the bottom of the ladder. After making his name as a lively goalsneak last year, he has been given more time in the midfield and shown encouraging signs despite an injury-interrupted summer.
Initially brought in to play a burst role to lay a few tackles and "hurry up opponents", Papley is now featuring more prominently in their midfield rotations.
"It is a surprise but I'll take it," he said.
"Anyone wants to be a midfielder in the AFL, IÂ don't mind being a small forward. It's good to have a few strings to your bow. That's what I want to add to my career. Now I can play midfield, go forward and be dangerous."
"I was a bit surprised, I didn't do much of a pre-season."
But Papley, third on the club's goalkicking chart, stopped short of saying he had arrived as a player.
"It can change very quickly," he said. "I'm going well now, hopefully I can have a long career. I've only played 30-odd games, there's still a long way to go."