SWANS co-captain Kieren Jack hopes to see Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley heading in his direction for the opening bounce of Saturday's qualifying final at ANZ Stadium.

In last year's preliminary final between the two teams in Perth, Crowley did a masterful job on Jack, who was in career-best form at the time and on his way to a first All Australian jumper.

Averaging more than 25 disposals that season, including 32 and 30 in the preceding finals against Hawthorn and Carlton respectively, Jack was held to just 11 touches by the Docker.

Crowley, who yapped in Jack's ear throughout the match and at one stage accused the Swan of ducking his head, helped himself to 22 possessions, five tackles and a goal as Freo qualified for its first Grand Final.

Crowley has also been used to stifle Dan Hannebery and Jarrad McVeigh in the past, with mixed success, but Jack would be more than happy to see the Docker walking towards him on Saturday afternoon.

"Oh yeah, (I'll take) any chance to go at him and try to beat him," Jack said.

"He's a niggly sort of player and he tries to get under your skin a fair bit, like a few of their players, but you can't be distracted by it and can't let it get yourself off your own game.

"We've got a process to go through and a game plan to adhere to, they've got a similar one, it's just about who stacks up the best."

Jack, who feels it takes a team effort to reduce the influence of the Fremantle tagger, was asked if he experienced a sinking feeling when he realised he would have Crowley for company.

"No, you enjoy the challenge," he said. "He's a quality stopper.

"If he comes to you, you know you're going to be in for a tough day and you have to work hard to get on top.

"But you also need some help. Whoever he goes to, we'll look to help that player out."

Fremantle flew out of the blocks in that preliminary final last year, producing a suffocating brand of football that held the Swans to just two goals to half-time.

More than 43,000 West Australians packed into Patersons Stadium that day and added to the intimidating atmosphere as the Dockers qualified for their first Grand Final.

Jack is hopeful the Sydneysiders can repay the favour at ANZ Stadium.

"I certainly remember that. They ambushed us in that first half," Jack said.

"It was a hostile environment, the crowd was going nuts; it was intimidating.

"We need to get one back and we hope that our crowd can create a similar sort of environment."

The Dockers will be without Michael Johnson (back) for the rest of the season, while fellow key defender Luke McPharlin (calf) hasn't played since round 20.

If McPharlin doesn't play, that leaves them looking very short in their efforts to stop the Swans' giant forward line of Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes and Sam Reid.

But Jack isn't jumping for joy just yet, believing the Dockers are more about structures than individuals.

The Swans, meanwhile, will have their hands full with Nat Fyfe, who will return from a two-game suspension.

In last year's preliminary final, Fyfe finished with 27 touches and two goals, while in the Dockers' round five defeat at the SCG this year, his 32 possessions kept them in the game.

"He's probably their best onballer and he has the ability to go forward and kick goals," he said.

"He's a unique player. He's tall, he can overhead mark.

"I've played on him a couple of times, but he's too bloody tall for me.

"We'll just look to our inside boys to put the pressure on and then try to catch them on the outside and make sure he doesn't do too much damage."

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