Preview: Swans v Bombers

• VENUE & TIME:* ANZ Stadium, 2.10pm AEST Sunday 18 May

• HEAD TO HEAD:* Wins: Sydney - 77, Essendon - 128, Draws - 1

• LAST TIME:* Essendon 11.8 (74) def Sydney 11.7 (73), Round 10, 2007 at the SCG

• WALKING WOUNDED:* Sydney's official injury list: Nick Malceski (knee) - test, Tadhg Kennelly (hamstring) - test, Luke Ablett (calf) - test, Jesse White (ankle) - test, Daniel Currie (ankle) - test, Patrick Veszpremi (groin) - 1 week, Daniel O'Keefe (groin) - 1 week, Heath Grundy (foot) - 1-2 weeks, Matthew Laidlaw (hamstring) - 2-3 weeks, Brett Meredith (shoulder) - 2-3 weeks, Barry Hall (suspension, wrist) - 4 weeks, Kristin Thornton (knee) - season. Essendon's official injury list: Adam Ramanauskas (virus) - available, Kyle Reimers (foot) - available, Sam Lonergan (hamstring) - test, Jason Winderlich (groin) - test, Mark McVeigh (hamstring) - test, Dustin Fletcher (adductor) - test, Damien Peverill (fractured jaw) - 2-3 weeks, Scott Gumbleton (knee) - 2-3 weeks, Scott Lucas (knee) - 2-3 weeks, Heath Hocking (groin) - 4-6 weeks, Courtenay Dempsey (leg) - 5-7 weeks, Andrew Lee (shoulder) - indefinite, Alwyn Davey (knee) - season, Nathan Lovett-Murray (suspension) - 1 week, Adam McPhee (suspension) - 1 week

• FORM:* The Swans are sixth on the ladder at 3-1-3, coming off an 18-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at the SCG. After being 2-1, the 13th-placed Bombers are in a tailspin, having lost four on the trot, by 30, 36, 73 and 64 points.

• WHO'S HOT:* Not only was Adam Goodes among Victoria's best against the Dream Team, he was a standout for Sydney the week before in collecting 26 touches against the Western Bulldogs. Bachar Houli was excellent for the Bombers in a losing side against Port Adelaide, picking up a career-best 26 disposals and laying seven tackles.

• WE THINK:* Sydney will go into this contest the overwhelming favourite despite not having won a match since losing Barry Hall to injury and suspension in Round 4. The Swans have lost the cutting edge of three seasons ago but they're still hard, disciplined and in the mix. Essendon stands to benefit from the return from injury of several first-choice players, but not even James Hird could save them. Matthew Knights' youth policy is a euphemism for a certain word which starts with 't' and rhymes with ranking that Andrew Demetriou finds so offensive. It's going to be a long season for the Bombers. *Sydney by 35 points.*