SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 04: Dane Rampe catches the ball during a Sydney Swans AFL training session at Lakeside Oval on July 04, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Both Sydney sides are set to lose important defensive players ahead of this week’s derby game at GIANTS Stadium.

For the Swans, Dane Rampe is set to miss the game with an eye injury while emerging half-back Colin O’Riordan has a groin issue that is set to keep him for at least this week.

The injury to Rampe comes at a poor time for the Swans as the Giants boast one of the best tall forward lines in the competition and it will be up to the likes of Lewis Melican and Tom McCartin to contain Jeremy Cameron, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson.

GWS will be without young key defender Sam Taylor who will miss 1-2 weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Saturday afternoon fixture is critical for both sides as GWS look to cement a finals place and Sydney aim to move up the ladder amid their poor season.