Callum Sinclair admitted to facing a nerve-racking week in the lead up to Saturday’s clash against West Coast.

One of two inclusions for the ANZAC Day Round match at the SCG, the ruckman described the anticipation of facing his old side as the most nervous he’s been going into a game.

“I’m a naturally nervous bloke,” Sinclair said in the rooms post-match.

“I received a few text messages from (Eagles players) mid-week which didn’t help.

Sinclair added with a sly smile: “But I’m pretty happy now.”

The soothing power of the first bounce was welcomed as Sinclair, alongside fellow ruckman Kurt Tippett, got to work in trying to quell the influence of West Coast duo Nic Naitanui and Fraser McInnes.

In tough conditions for big men, Sinclair battled hard all afternoon. He hit the scoreboard and disallowed the always dangerous Naitanui to give his midfield first use by helping to square the hit outs (40-41).

The jibes came thick and fast from his former teammates throughout the afternoon but the 26-year-old enjoyed the last laugh at the final siren.

“There’s a bit too much going on out there to pay any attention to that stuff,” Sinclair said.

“At the quarter breaks a few of them had some words for me and when you made a mistake they’d let you know about it.

“I gave it back to them too.”

Thankfully Sinclair didn’t have any recurring effects of the infected foot which forced his late withdrawal from the Swans’ Round 4 clash against Adelaide and should be right for next week’s clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.