Sydney coach Dean Cox says he has never been a "disruptor" of finals teams as the club prepares to battle with top-two side Geelong.
The Swans were officially ruled out of finals contention three weeks ago, but have seemingly been building a consistent brand, winning seven of their past nine clashes.
In that span, they've knocked off a host of teams below them on the ladder, as well as Fremantle and Brisbane, with the Cats next in sight.
However, Cox doesn't view the remaining rounds as an opportunity to cause chaos for those vying for September action, but better still, create a platform for the club to build consistency heading into 2026.
"I've never been one to try and be a disruptor," Cox said.
"One thing we try and do is build a brand that's consistent, and one we want to go forward with, and also you never want to miss an opportunity.
"The chance we have in front of us... Try some things differently, and on top of that, if we play great teams, even better. Because we get a chance to test ourselves against the best. And does it stand up? Will it work? What do we have to adjust? What do we look at over the finals campaign?
"That's all I'm focused on."
Sunday's clash at the SCG will see All-Australian fancy and ruckman Brodie Grundy miss with concussion, with Peter Ladhams confirmed to take his spot.
Speedster Justin McInerney also misses with a knee injury, but the Swans are set to regain crafty forward Will Hayward.
Cox also didn't shy away from suggesting star player Isaac Heeney deserves more credit for the season he's had, saying that the club's mediocre win-loss record has denied him the recognition he deserves.
Heeney is fresh off another five-goal performance, his third for the year, which takes his tally to 35, despite playing predominantly midfield.
"I've looked at stats of players that are being talked about in the All-Australian team and All-Australian captains, Isaac's had as good a year as all of them," Cox said.
"Unfortunately, we haven't won enough games for a specific player to be spoken about. He's been phenomenal for our footy club. Not many players can do what he does in the midfield and then go forward and turn a game as well.
"I think the entire AFL industry admires what Isaac can do on a football field, but as soon as you're not in the top couple of teams, you don't get spoken about as frequently. That doesn't mean that he hasn't had the year he had last year."
The Swans will celebrate versatile defender Nick Blakey's 150th game, who could be tasked with curbing Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron.
"Nick's played some really important roles on players who do play high, whether they're dangerous key forwards or medium types that get up the ground as well – Jezza sits in between both of those," Cox said.
"The dynamism of him, the potency he creates by getting up the ground and then turning back to goal, it's the reason he's leading the Coleman not just by sitting in the square all the time."
